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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Joe W. Freelon Sr., the first African 
4American Mayor of Maywood, who passed away on November 18, 
52016; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Mayor Freelon was born in Grenada, Mississippi on 
7September 15, 1929; he attended Grenada elementary and high 
8schools before entering the United States Army; in 1956, he 
9graduated from Tuskegee University with a bachelor's degree, 
10where he was in the ROTC program; after graduation, he 
11re-entered the military and was stationed in Fort Bliss in 
12Texas; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, Mayor Freelon moved to Chicago and became a social 
14studies and math teacher in the Chicago public schools; in 
151964, he and his wife, Gladys, moved to Maywood and joined the 
16Second Baptist Church, where he served as Chairman of the 
17Deacon Board for over 40 years, and was a longtime member of 
18the Maple Tree Child Care Center; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, Mayor Freelon was elected Mayor of Maywood on 
20November 3, 1982; his election began a string of African 
21Americans being elected Mayor across the nation, with Chicago 
22electing Harold Washington, Philadelphia electing Wilson 
 
 
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1Goode, and New York City electing David Dinkins; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, Mayor Freelon served four terms in office; he lost 
3his bid for a fifth term in 1989, but ran again in 1993 and won, 
4serving for eight more years; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, In 2014, Mayor Freelon was appointed  to the Fire 
6and Police Pension Board by Maywood Mayor Edweena Perkins; in 
7October of 2014, he was honored by the Maywood Police 
8Department for "initiating a turnaround" for the Village; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Mayor Freelon and his wife, Gladys, were married 
10for 61 years; together they had two children, Joe Jr. and 
11Gawana; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
15Joe W. Freelon Sr., and extend our sincere condolences to his 
16family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
17further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to  the family of  Mayor Freelon as an expression of 
20our deepest sympathy.