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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Claudell Ervin, who passed away on
4December 19, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin was born in Jackson, Mississippi to
6Claude and Geneva Ervin on August 8, 1943; he was baptized at
7an early age and attended Mandell United Methodist Church; he
8attended Roswell B. Mason Elementary School and David G.
9Farragut High School, where he excelled as a running back on
10the football team; he received a football scholarship to
11Central College in Pella, Iowa and earned a bachelor's degree
12in criminal justice from Chicago State University; in November
13of 1970, he married the love of his life, Thelma Johnson; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin began his career with the Chicago
15Police Department in 1968; he served 13 years as a patrolman
16which included the 15th, 21st, and 22nd Districts; in April
171981, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and was assigned
18to the 15th District, and later, to the 11th District, where he
19was Neighborhood Relations Sergeant; he attended the
20Northwestern University Center for Public Safety Police
21Management Training Program and was assigned to the Commander's
22Office of the Police Training Division; in 1991, he was
23promoted to the rank of lieutenant and assigned as the

 

 

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1Commanding Officer of the Police Training Academy's Operations
2Section; in May of 1996, he was promoted to commander of the
3Area 1 Detective Division; later that year he returned to his
4roots as commander of the 11th District; he retired in 2000
5after 32 years of service; in 2008, he returned to law
6enforcement as chief of police for the Village of Hazel Crest;
7and
 
8    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin mentored young men from the
9Westside of Chicago through his support of various athletic
10programs that produced talents such as Isiah Thomas, Glen "Doc"
11Rivers, and Mark Aguirre; through his leadership, various youth
12entered into the field of law enforcement and had successful
13careers; he was responsible for the success of such programs as
14the 11th District Prayer Vigil, Mayor Daley's Super Block, the
15Ministers Alliance, the Men's Club, youth athletic programs,
16the Explorer Scouts Program, the Explorer Gospel Fest, the
17Junior Police, Toys-for-Tots, and his personal favorite, the
18box car derby; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin served as head of security for the
201988 NBA All-Star Weekend, held for the first time in Chicago;
21he then became NBA Security Director for the Chicago Bulls,
22where he served through 2004; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin was licensed to preach and attended

 

 

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1the Northern Baptist Seminary; he served as a chaplain at
2Advocate Bethany Hospital; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin was a member of the National
4Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and
5served as chairman of the board for the Bobby E. Wright
6Community Mental Health Center; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin was a member of New Morning Star
8M.B. Church, where he was actively involved in Christian
9education and served as chairman of the board of deacons; in
102003, he joined the Third Baptist Church in Chicago; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin was preceded in death by his
12parents and his brother, Ronald Ervin; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Claudell Ervin is survived by his wife of 47
14years, Thelma; his children, Michele (Lee) Bussie and Jason
15(State Rep. Melissa Conyears-Ervin) Ervin; his brothers, Jerry
16(Flora) Ervin and Michael (Sheila) Ervin; his sisters-in-law,
17Evelyn Brady, Ruthie (Charles) Johnson, and Katherine
18(Michael) Smith; his brothers-in-law, Roger (Dorothy) Johnson,
19Robert Johnson, and Reginald (Sharon) Johnson; his
20grandchildren, Lee Hollis Bussie, Blake Douglas Bussie, and Pa
21Pa's "sweet little angel", Jeneva Claudette Ervin; numerous
22nieces, nephews, and friends; a very special brother-in-law,

 

 

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1Charles Johnson; and a devoted care giver, Ronald Neely;
2therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
5Claudell Ervin, and extend our sincere condolences to his
6family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
7further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of Claudell Ervin as an expression of
10our deepest sympathy.