HR0570 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0570 LRB102 22142 LAW 31271 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jerry Brown of Chicago, who passed away on November 10, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown was born to Elmer L. and Gladys C. (McGill) Brown in Chicago on December 17, 1954; he grew up on the West Side of Chicago on Roosevelt, and his family moved to Marynook in 1964; he attended Avalon Park Elementary School; he graduated from Bowen High School in 1972, where he participated in ROTC and played football; he briefly attended Bishop College in Marshall, Texas; he married Robin Richards in 1981; they had three children, Jerry II, Ryanne, and Jerome, and raised them in the Beverly neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown began his professional career as a shoe salesman at Florsheim Shoes; he became a telephone technician at Illinois Bell in 1978, and he retired after 15 years of service; he continued to take many contract positions, including leading telecommunications development at Midway Airport; due to these experiences, he became known as the family's handyman; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown committed to his faith at a young age; as an adult, he attended Lilydale Progressive Baptist and Trinity United Church of Christ; he read the Bible daily, and he loved to discuss, debate, and weave the words he read into his political views; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown became an active and outspoken community organizer on the South Side in his later years, working closely with the alderman's office and becoming deeply involved with the homeowners' association to help reduce crime, revitalize 87th street commerce, and much more; he helped co-found and worked closely with community organizations committed to providing support to families in the area, including the South Area Civic League and Roseland Matters; as a lifelong South Sider, he believed in its promise and did everything he could to fight for the residents and be a voice of the community; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown's voice became a microphone for community issues; he was a regular on many radio shows, including the Ben Joravsky Show, Stephanie Trusell, and WVON; he hosted his own internet radio show called Policy Matters; his preferred platform was Facebook, where he committed himself every day to providing strong opinions on politics, society, and crime in Chicago; he was known for "telling it like it is" and for often getting into debates with anyone willing; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown brought intelligence, passion, and conviction to everything he did; his family was his pride and joy, and he loved spending time with them; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown was preceded in death by his sibling, Elmer; and

WHEREAS, Jerry Brown is survived by his children, Jerry II (Lauren), Ryanne, and Jerome; his grandchildren, Jacob, Jackson, Julian, and Jacoby; his former wife, Robin; his mother, Gladys; his siblings, Gladys Emir and Lloyd; and a host of beloved family and lifelong and Facebook friends; 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 Jerry Brown 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 Jerry Brown as an expression of our deepest sympathy.