093_HR0489 LRB093 12196 KEF 17376 r 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 -2- LRB093 12196 KEF 17376 r 1 expression of our deepest sympathy.