093_HR0489

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 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS,  The  members   of   the   Illinois   House   of
 3    Representatives  were  saddened  to  learn  of  the  death of
 4    Reverend Elmer L. Fowler of Chicago  on  Wednesday,  May  28,
 5    2003; and

 6        WHEREAS,  Rev.  Fowler is the Founder and Pastor Emeritus
 7    of the Third Baptist Church  of  Chicago;  he  organized  the
 8    church  in March of 1963 with eight members and built it into
 9    one of the largest  churches  on  Chicago's  south  side;  he
10    served  as  pastor  until his retirement in December of 1992,
11    when he turned over the mantle of leadership to Rev. Dr. Alan
12    V. Ragland, who now served the church as its  senior  pastor;
13    upon  his  retirement, Rev. Fowler was also given the honored
14    status of Pastor Emeritus; and

15        WHEREAS,  Rev.  Elmer   Fowler   was   known   throughout
16    Chicagoland  and  the  nation  as a committed pastor, a civil
17    rights activist, a renowned public leader, and  a  passionate
18    historian  of  African  American culture through photographs;
19    and

20        WHEREAS, Rev. Fowler's passing will be deeply felt by his
21    family and friends;  a  memorial  service  will  be  held  to
22    celebrate  the  life,  ministry, and legacy of Rev. Fowler on
23    Saturday, June  7,  2003  at  the  Third  Baptist  Church  in
24    Chicago; therefore, be it

25        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
26    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
27    we  mourn  the passing of Reverend Elmer L. Fowler along with
28    all who knew and loved him and extend our sincere condolences
29    to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

30        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
31    presented  to  the  family  of Reverend Elmer L. Fowler as an
 
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 1    expression of our deepest sympathy.