HR1432 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1432 LRB099 23523 MST 51005 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Samuel Frye Burrell, who passed away on September 28, 2016; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell was born in Panola, Alabama to Willie and Eva Mae Burrell on September 18, 1938; he graduated from North Sumter High School in 1957 and joined the United States Army; he completed Army Warfare training at Fort Benning, Georgia and Army Medical School at Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston, Texas; he served as an Army paramedic; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell left the Army in 1960 and relocated to Chicago, where he worked as a Chicago Transit Authority bus operator; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell attended DeVry University from 1967 to 1969 to study electrical engineering; he left and went to work for North American Phillips as an Electronic Technician; in 1974, he took a position with the General Motors Electromotive Division and resumed his studies at DeVry University from 1975 to 1977; he was certified as a Master Mechanic, Electrician, and Locomotive Engineer; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell left General Motors in 1984, and joined Mayor Harold Washington's reform administration; he continued his education at Roosevelt University from 1987 to 1988, majoring in finance; he left the City of Chicago in 2002 and established Fuller-Burrell Electric, an electrical contracting company; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell was a member of the Pan African Students Organization, the Black Panther Party, the NAACP, and the independent political movement on the west side of Chicago; he was elected to the Chicago City Council in 1990, where he served as Alderman of the 29th ward until 1999; he founded the United Voter Registration League which registered more than 50,000 voters for the 1992 presidential election; he was proud to be called a "freedom fighter" by the president of the local chapter of the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, James and Jesse Burrell; and his children, Ruwa, Linda, and Mark Burrell; and

WHEREAS, Samuel Burrell is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rosie L. (Key); his daughters, Cheronne Michelle Mayes, Joye Burrell(John) Beamon, and Miesha Samantha (Gary) Turner; his sons, William F. Little Esq., Edward E. Burrell, and Sam (Erica) Burrell II; his brothers, Willie (Dorothy), Bill (Ellen), Charles (Barbara), and Lawrence; his sisters, Mattie and Gail (Timothy); many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other relatives; and a host of friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Samuel Burrell, 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 Samuel Burrell as an expression of our deepest sympathy.