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| | HR1122 | | LRB097 21765 KXB 70282 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of |
| 3 | | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of
Iola |
| 4 | | McGowan of Chicago, who passed away on May 24, 2012; and
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| 5 | | WHEREAS, Iola McGowan was born on September 8, 1936; proud |
| 6 | | of her West Side roots, she graduated from Farragut High School |
| 7 | | in 1954; she started a family and spearhead neighborhood |
| 8 | | efforts in her area; she later graduated from Northeastern |
| 9 | | Illinois University; and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, She began her political career at the precinct |
| 11 | | level; she ascended through the ranks of the Democratic Party |
| 12 | | to become the Director of Consumer Services for the City of |
| 13 | | Chicago under former Mayor Jane Byrne, serving a 6-year term; |
| 14 | | she was then appointed to head the Model Cities Community |
| 15 | | Services program; she also developed an innovative classroom |
| 16 | | coloring book to teach children about becoming educated |
| 17 | | consumers; and
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| 18 | | WHEREAS, She was a former Vice Chairman of the Illinois |
| 19 | | State Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee; |
| 20 | | and she served as a Chicago Park District Commissioner; and
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| 21 | | WHEREAS, Iola McGowan was known as the "First Lady of the |
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| | HR1122 | - 2 - | LRB097 21765 KXB 70282 r |
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| 1 | | Westside" and served as the 29th Ward Committeeman for 4 years; |
| 2 | | she also served on the Board of Cook County Department of |
| 3 | | Corrections; and
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| 4 | | WHEREAS, Iola McGowan was preceded in death by her husband, |
| 5 | | Adam "Donald" McGowan; her mother, Ernestine Martin; and her |
| 6 | | sister, Anna Pearson; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, Iola McGowan is survived by her children, Rhonda |
| 8 | | Stivers (fiance, Matthew), Gregory McGowan (Patricia), and |
| 9 | | Allison McGowan (fiance, Shawn); her sister, Laverne Schaffer; |
| 10 | | her grandchildren, Jason Stivers, Ashley McGowan, and Whitney |
| 11 | | McGowan; and a host of nieces, nephews, family members, and |
| 12 | | friends; therefore, be it
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| 13 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
| 14 | | NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 15 | | we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of |
| 16 | | Iola McGowan; and be it further
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| 17 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
| 18 | | presented to the family of Iola McGowan as a symbol of our |
| 19 | | sincere sympathy.
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