SR2026 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Lorraine H. Morton of Evanston, who
4passed away on September 8, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lorraine Morton was born in Winston-Salem, North
6Carolina on December 8, 1918; the youngest of ten children, she
7earned a master's degree in Education from Northwestern
8University in 1942; while in Evanston, she met her husband,
9James Morton; after living in Tuskegee, Alabama, they returned
10to Evanston in 1953; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Lorraine Morton began her career in District 65 at
12Foster Elementary School; in 1957, she made history as the
13first African-American educator in Evanston to break the color
14barrier and moved from the segregated Foster School to Nichols
15Middle School; she later taught at Chute Middle School; in
161977, she became the principal of Haven Middle School, where
17she remained until her retirement from District 65 in 1989; and
 
18    WHEREAS, In 1982, Lorraine Morton was appointed Evanston
195th Ward Alderman, and she represented the City's 5th Ward
20until 1991; in 1993, she again made Evanston history when she
21was elected as the City's first African-American mayor; she was
22re-elected three times and remained in office until 2009,

 

 

SR2026- 2 -LRB100 23466 ALS 42499 r

1becoming the City's longest-serving mayor; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Lorraine Morton dedicated her life to serving the
3Evanston community as an educator and as a public officer;
4after leaving office, Lorraine Morton remained an active
5participant in the Evanston community; shortly after her
6retirement in 2009, the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center was
7named in her honor; she will be remembered as a remarkable
8woman who was a valuable teacher, mentor, and friend; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Lorraine Morton was preceded in death by her
10husband; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Lorraine Morton is survived by her daughter and
12two granddaughters; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
15Lorraine H. Morton and extend our sincere condolences to her
16family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
17further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the family of Lorraine Morton as an expression of
20our deepest sympathy.