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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Nathan "Nate" "Bobo" Smalls Jr. of
4Danville, who passed away on July 9, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was born in Chatham County in
6Savannah, Georgia to Nathan and Loretta Smalls; he moved to
7Danville in 1969 after meeting his wife, Anita, at Danville
8Stadium; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was a star pitcher for the
10Indianapolis Clowns, a team in the last Negro Baseball
11Barnstorming League, from 1965 until 1986; in one legendary
12game, he sent all of his fielders to the dugout and proceeded
13to strike out the side; during barnstorming tours, he and his
14teammates pooled their $3-per-person-per-day meal allowance to
15buy enough bread, bologna, and peanut butter to feed everyone;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, When his baseball days were over, Nate Smalls
18remained in Danville and worked at a grain-processing plant for
1934 years; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was known as one of the Three Kings of
21Peace, a trio of men who worked together to reduce violence in

 

 

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1city schools and the community; the group got its start by
2organizing regular peace marches in troubled neighborhoods,
3asking young people to choose peace over violence; during the
4school year, the Three Kings of Peace made frequent visits to
5North Ridge Middle and South View Upper Elementary schools and
6eventually Danville High School, monitoring the students and
7encouraging them to make positive choices in life; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was one of the primary organizers of a
9summer basketball league for young people at Garfield Park, and
10two basketball courts were dedicated in his honor; he
11volunteered to run the gymnasium at the Boys and Girls Club,
12and when the Club's basketball league started, he served as a
13coach and volunteer referee; he will best be remembered as an
14ambassador of peace for the young people of Vermilion County;
15and
 
16    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls was preceded in death by his parents;
17his daughter, Lukresia; his grandson, Nathan; his
18great-granddaughter, Na'ryah; his brother, James Robe; and his
19sister, Haddie Mae Thomas; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Nate Smalls is survived by his wife, Anita; his
21daughters, Dana Williams, Leslie (Tyrone) Dunbar, and Breya
22McGrown; his son, Darwin Baxter; his sisters-in-law, Bea Brown,
23Ellen Brooks, Bertha Brandon, and Alice (Lee) Shields; his

 

 

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1favorite aunt, Angie Robe, and uncle, Johnnie Brown; his aunts,
2Patricia Ann Rutledge and Roslyn Robe; and many nieces,
3nephews, cousins, friends, and loved ones; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
6Nathan "Nate" "Bobo" Smalls Jr. and extend our sincere
7condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
8him; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of Nate Smalls as an expression of our
11deepest sympathy.