SR0399 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0399 LRB100 12321 MST 24975 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Edward Williams Sr.; and

WHEREAS, Richard Williams Sr. was born in Chicago to Arthur L. Williams and Nellie R. Atkins on July 3, 1926; he grew up on the Westside of Chicago and attended Grant and Tennyson elementary schools and Crane High School; he served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1945; he was baptized in the Pacific Ocean in Hawaii in 1944; he returned to Chicago after the war and married Louise Ford; he later married Dolores Sellers in 1950; and

WHEREAS, Richard Williams Sr. worked for various companies, including the Ford Motor Co., Western Electric, and the Hines Veterans Administration Hospital; he had a career of over 30 years as a welder at International Harvester (IH); he served as a United Auto Workers (UAW) union steward, shop committeeman, regional representative and was very active with the UAW Political Action Committee while at IH; and

WHEREAS, Richard Williams Sr. co-owned a barbershop and was a independent plumbing and heating contractor on the Westside; and

WHEREAS, Richard Williams Sr. enjoyed tinkering and fixing things, reading, collecting various objects, and spending time with this family; he was affectionately known as "Papa Richard"; and

WHEREAS, Richard Williams Sr. is survived by his wife of 66 years, Dolores; his daughter, Sheila Dorns; his sons, Tyrone (Janice) Williams, Rev. Richard Williams Jr. (Cassopolis Michigan), Kevin (Victoria) Williams, Keith (Pamela) Williams, and Vincent (Suzanne) Williams; 21 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and countless nieces and nephews and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Edward Williams Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Richard Williams Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.