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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of William Garth Sr. of Chicago, who passed 
4away on September 23, 2016; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. grew up in rural Bessemer, 
6Alabama, one of 15 children; and
 
7    WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. moved to Chicago and began 
8working as a salesman at the Chicago Citizen papers, a weekly 
9newspaper chain focusing on African-American communities; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. purchased the chain  
11approximately 35 years ago and became  CEO and publisher; the 
12papers, with a circulation of about 121,000, constitute the 
13largest black-owned chain in the Midwest; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, In 1996, William  Garth Sr. was elected Chair of 
15the 480-newspaper Illinois Press Association, becoming the 
16country's first African-American chief of a statewide press 
17organization; and
 
18    WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. was a member of the Rainbow/PUSH 
19board and publisher of PUSH magazine; he was a founding member 
20of the Chatham Business Association; and
  
 
 
 
SR2258- 2 -LRB099 23515 MST 50989 r

1    WHEREAS, After the passing of his son, Quentis Bernard 
2Garth, William Garth Sr. started a scholarship foundation in 
3his name, which has dispensed more than $1 million to 
4college-bound students; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. is survived by his son, William 
6Darrell Garth Jr.; his daughter-in-law, Janice; his sisters, 
7Geraldine Burgess, Orangie Garth, and Charlie Garth; his 
8brothers, X Rashid, Robert Sr., Roosevelt, Jessie, Larry, 
9Joseph, and Richard; three grandchildren; and seven 
10great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
13William Garth Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his 
14family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
15further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to  the family of  William Garth Sr. as an expression 
18of our deepest sympathy.