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SR0670 |
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LRB093 23359 KEF 53341 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois |
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| were saddened to learn of the death of Thomas E. Rand of |
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| Chicago on August 25, 2004; and
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| WHEREAS, Thomas E. Rand was an only child born in Lodi, |
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| Texas to the union of Goree and Sadie Cole Rand on March 2, |
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| 1919; as a graduate of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and |
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| Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Arkansas, he proved to |
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| be an astute student of business early on; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Rand settled in Chicago after a successful |
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| tour of duty in which he witnessed the end of World War II as |
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| Sergeant in the United States Army; his first venture was a |
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| Billiard and Recreation Room at 55th and State Street in |
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| Chicago during a time when opportunities and resources were |
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| limited for people of color; many area businessmen impressed by |
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| his work ethic and shrewd acumen sought his counsel; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Rand started to break down barriers for |
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| minorities in business and as his family grew, his sons were |
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| raised under a rule of uncompromised business discipline; their |
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| hard work and efforts were rewarded when they became the first |
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| African Americans to own a wholesale beverage company, which |
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| eventually became one of the country's largest establishments; |
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| from there the family's diverse holdings expanded into |
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| manufacturing, food distribution, wholesale, and |
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| import-export; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Rand will always be remembered for his |
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| outstanding contributions to the business world at large, Civil |
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| Rights, and the pursuit of equality for human justice; and
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| WHEREAS, The passing of Thomas E. Rand will be deeply felt |
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| by many, especially his wife, Jenny; his children, Everett and |