093_HR0317 LRB093 11747 KEF 16219 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of 3 the State of Illinois learned with deep regret of the death 4 of Gladys Holcomb of Chicago on Wednesday, April 30, 2003; 5 and 6 WHEREAS, Mrs. Holcomb was born in Brownville, Tennessee 7 in October of 1906; she moved to Chicago in 1935 where she 8 married Kinnard Holcomb in 1945; and 9 WHEREAS, Mr. and Mrs. Holcomb first established Gladys' 10 Luncheonette on State Street; after ten years, the restaurant 11 moved to a basement location at 4541 S. Indiana; they soon 12 outgrew that space and moved up the street to the present 13 location of the restaurant at 4527 S. Indiana in November of 14 1963; and 15 WHEREAS, Gladys' Luncheonette became one of the most 16 popular "soul food" restaurants in the Midwest, known for its 17 delicious fried chicken, smothered chicken, smothered pork 18 chops, peach cobbler, "melt-in-your-mouth" biscuits, and 19 other down home, southern delicacies; many famous people were 20 known to dine at the Luncheonette including Dr. Martin Luther 21 King Jr., Lou Rawls, Redd Foxx, Governor Jim Thompson, Della 22 Reese, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Gladys Knight, and a host of 23 others; and 24 WHEREAS, Mrs. Holcomb owned Gladys' Luncheonette until 25 1997 when she was no longer able to operate it on a 26 day-to-day basis and sold it to her daughter and a group of 27 investors; and 28 WHEREAS, The passing of Gladys Holcomb has been deeply 29 felt by many, but especially her husband, Kinnard; and her 30 daughter, little Gladys; therefore, be it 31 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE -2- LRB093 11747 KEF 16219 r 1 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 2 we mourn the passing of Mrs. Gladys Holcomb and we express 3 our sincere and deepest sympathy to her husband, daughter, 4 friends, and family; and be it further 5 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 6 presented to the family of Mrs. Holcomb as a token of our 7 sincere condolences.