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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dr. Herschel Lee Garrett Jr., who passed
4away on May 23, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett was born in Jackson, Mississippi on
6December 13, 1931 to Herschel Sr. and Mary Catherine Garrett;
7he was baptized in the Episcopal Church and later converted to
8the Baptist denomination; he attended Maxfield Elementary
9School in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from Marshall High
10School; he served in the United States Army during the Korean
11War; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett was honorably discharged from the Army
13and graduated from Lincoln University in Jefferson City,
14Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in
15Psychology; he was initiated into the Alpha Mu Chapter of Kappa
16Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; he graduated from the Meharry
17Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville in 1963 and
18married Shirley Marie Curry; he interned at George W. Hubbard
19Hospital in Nashville and relocated to the East St. Louis area,
20where he opened his dental practice; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett was involved with numerous
22organizations, including the American Red Cross, the Boys &

 

 

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1Girls Club of America, the East St. Louis Anniversary Club
2(Past President), the East St. Louis Community Fund Board of
3Directors (Past President), Gateway East Health, Inc., the
4Jackie Joyner-Kersee Reach for Dreams Foundation, the Jackie
5Robinson Khoury League, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
6(Past Polemarch & Life Member), the Metro East Cancer Unit
7(Past President and Jail & Bail Chairperson), the Midwestern
8States Dental Society, the Mound City Dental Society, the
9N.A.A.C.P. (Life Member), the National Dental Association,
10R.O.M.E.O.S. - Retired Old Men Eating Out, the St. Clair County
11Board of Health, the St. Louis Globe Democrat's Old Newsboy,
12Truelight Baptist Church (Jewel and Vice Chairman, Board of
13Directors), the Royal Vagabonds, the Urban League, and the
14Y.M.C.A.; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett received many awards and honors,
16including the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Martin
17Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award, the C. Roger
18Wilson Achievement and Human Rights Award, the East St. Louis
19City Council Distinguished Community Service Award, the Frank
20M. Summers Distinguished Service Award, the Gateway Chapter of
21Links, Inc. Health Jamboree Award, the Illinois Department of
22Children & Family Services Outstanding Volunteer Service
23Award, the Lt. Governor Pat Quinn's Healthy Smiles Hero Award,
24the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Outstanding Service
25Award, the North Central Province Distinguished Alumni Award,

 

 

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1the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Afro American History Award,
2the Top Ladies of Distinction Outstanding Service to Youth
3Award, and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Award of
4Merit; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett was affectionately known as "Doc
6Garrett"; he continuously stressed the importance of education
7to everyone and was instrumental in helping many obtain a
8degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett was preceded in death by his son,
10Herschel III; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Garrett is survived by his wife, Shirley; his
12daughters, Staci Garrett Oliver and Kathryn Nicole Garrett; his
13grandchildren, Joseph Anthony, Justin Aaron, and Jordan
14Alexander Clayborne and Klayton Nicolas Garrett; his
15son-in-law, James F. Oliver Jr.; his adopted son, Kimball
16Nicholes; his "Guardian Angels", Leonard Childs, Robert
17Henson, Kenny Johnson, and John Morgan; and numerous extended
18family, nephews, nieces, and special friends; therefore, be it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
20ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
21Dr. Herschel Lee Garrett Jr. and extend our sincere condolences
22to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be

 

 

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1it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3presented to the family of Dr. Garrett as an expression of our
4deepest sympathy.