HR0558 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0558 LRB102 21022 LAW 29945 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald Gregory Draper; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Draper was born to Denmon and Gladys Draper in Chicago on February 8, 1950; he learned the meaning of hard work at an early age as a paperboy, bus boy, and number runner in the Chatham community; he graduated at the top of his class from Martha Ruggles Elementary School in 1963; he attended Harlan High School, where he participated in cross country and track and field and broke the state record for the 120-yard high hurdles, leading his team to the Illinois State High School Championship; he enrolled at the North Carolina Colleges for Negroes, now known as North Carolina Central University, on a track and field scholarship in 1967 and became a 5-time College All-American between 1970 and 1971; he earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science from NCCU in 1971; he earned his Juris Doctor in 1974; he married Virginia Reynolds in 1975, and they had two sons, Jason and Brandon Draper; he passed the Cook County Bar Exam in 1975; he married Vivian Boone in 1987, and she preceded him in death in November 1991; and

WHEREAS, After passing the bar, Ronald Draper began working as an assistant district attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney office; as a prosecutor, he applied himself vigorously but realized that role was not his true passion; he eventually left the State's Attorney office for private practice as a criminal defense attorney, where he worked for justice and championed the rights of defendants who were sent to prison without a fair trial or by means of false evidence; and

WHEREAS, Ronald Draper was an active member of the St. Mark United Methodist Church, Grove Phi Grove, Kappa Alpha Psi, and the Cook County Bar Association; he was an avid golfer and world traveler; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Ronald Gregory Draper and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ronald Draper as an expression of our deepest sympathy.