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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Nathan
4"Nate" "Bobo" Smalls Jr. of Danville, who passed away on July
59, 2019; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was born in Chatham County in
7Savannah, Georgia to Nathan and Loretta Smalls; he moved to
8Danville in 1969; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was a member of the Indianapolis
10Clowns, a team in the last Negro Baseball Barnstorming League,
11from 1965 until 1986; he played for the team longer than any
12other member; as a left-handed pitcher, he could throw a ball
1397 miles per hour and was known for the ability to hold four
14baseballs at once and pitch them to four different batters with
15one throw; he was honored by the Indianapolis Indians minor
16league baseball team during a special night at Victory Field in
17the summer of 2018; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was one of the founding members of the
19Three Kings of Peace; the group volunteered daily as mentors in
20the Danville schools in an effort to reduce violence in
21schools; the group organized marches in the community to push
22back against violence in the city; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was one of the primary organizers of a
2summer basketball league for young people at Garfield Park; in
3recognition of his work with area youth, officials dedicated
4the basketball courts in his honor in June 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was a tireless advocate for the young
6people of his community; he worked to cultivate peace and
7eliminate violence; he loved sports and was deeply committed to
8his family; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was preceded in death by his parents;
10his daughter, Lukresia; his grandson, Nathan; his
11great-granddaughter, Na'ryah; his brother, James Robe; and his
12sister, Haddie Mae Thomas; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls is survived by his wife, Anita; his
14daughters, Dana Williams, Leslie (Tyrone) Dunbar, and Breya
15McGrown; his son, Darwin Baxter; his sisters-in-law, Bea Brown,
16Ellen Brooks, Bertha Brandon, and Alice (Lee) Shields; his
17favorite aunt, Angie Robe and uncle, Johnnie Brown; his aunts,
18Patricia Ann Rutledge and Roslyn Robe; and many nieces,
19nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones; therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

 

 

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1we mourn the passing of Nathan "Nate" "Bobo" Smalls Jr. and
2extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all
3who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Nate Smalls as an expression of our
6deepest sympathy.