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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Lonnie E. Clark Sr. of Urbana; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Lonnie E. Clark Sr. was born May 18, 1940, in
5Champaign, to the union of the Reverend Jesse D. Clark and Erma
6D. Luter Clark; he married Joan Graham on July 21, 1962; Lonnie
7accepted Christ at an early age under the leadership of the
8Reverend E. Kilgore; and
 
9    WHEREAS, He attended Champaign schools and graduated from
10Champaign High School in 1959; he accepted a scholarship to
11play football and run track at St. Augustine's College in
12Raleigh, North Carolina, and completed additional advanced
13coursework at the Institute of Labor and Industry at the
14University of Illinois; he later received a degree in political
15science at Eastern Illinois University; and
 
16    WHEREAS, During the 1960s, when local Champaign residents
17were picketing certain businesses that refused to hire blacks
18in prominent positions, he participated in the protests; as a
19result, Lonnie was the first African-American hired at
20Goldblatt's Department Store and within six months was promoted
21to the position of manager of the men's clothing department;
22and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, With a growing interest in the plight of his
2community and various civic concerns, he entered the public
3arena as an advocate for human rights and had the following
4achievements: he was one of the founders of the Frances Nelson
5Health Center; he was chairman of the board of directors for
6Opportunities Industrialization Center, founded by the late
7Dr. Leon Sullivan; he was a member of the committee to
8establish the first "Black Mom's Day" weekend at the University
9of Illinois; he assisted in the programming for students in the
10initial Project 500 EOP Program at the University of Illinois;
11he was a member of the Douglas Center Advisory Committee; he
12was elected president of the Illinois Affirmative Action
13Association for the State of Illinois; he was the first
14African-American appointed to the Urbana Plan Commission; he
15served two four-year elected terms on the Urbana City Council
16representing Ward 3, and as alderman introduced legislation to
17designate Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a holiday for
18the City of Urbana; and
 
19    WHEREAS, In addition, he successfully led the
20demonstration to close an adult bookstore at Goodwin and
21University Avenues in proximity to a day care center and King
22School; and in 2002 he was selected by The News-Gazette as one
23of the "150 Most Important People in Champaign County"; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Lonnie Clark was president and co-owner, with J.W.
2Pirtle, treasurer, of WBCP 1580 AM, East Central Illinois'
3first African-American-owned radio station; he was also active
4in the following affiliations: the DUC Golf Club; the Community
5Reinvestment Act Advisory Board to Busey Bank; the Board of
6Directors of Champaign County Crimestoppers; the National
7Association for the Advancement of Colored People; the Urban
8League of Champaign County; the Foundation for Provena Covenant
9Medical Center; and the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity as a life
10member of the organization; and
 
11    WHEREAS, He retired from the University of Illinois after
1233 years as a labor relations specialist, and remained active
13in his quest for equal opportunities in his community; he had a
14passion for golf; and he loved sports, dance, and music,
15particularly smooth jazz; and
 
16    WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his parents; his five
17sisters, Rosalee Virginia Clark, Imogene Casmer, Carolyne
18Wilson, Ruth DeShong, and Lucille Roberts; and his brother,
19Marvin Clark; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Lonnie Clark leaves to cherish his memories his
21wife and children, Jeffrey L. (Bernita) Clark and Lonnie E.
22Clark II; his brothers, Jesse D. (Lucille) Clark and Clyde
23Warren (Isola) Clark; his lifelong friend, Thomas Brown; and a

 

 

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1host of relatives and friends; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
3ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
4his family, friends, and the many people whose lives he
5touched, the passing of Lonnie Clark; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Lonnie Clark as a symbol of our
8sincere sympathy.