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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, During Black History Month it is important to
3recognize those within the African American community who
4contributed to the betterment of the State; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge (August 23, 1930 - December 26,
62008) was a Democratic member of the Illinois House of
7Representatives, representing the 114th District from 1975
8until 2008; she served as the Assistant Majority Leader and was
9a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge earned her Bachelor of Science
11from the Hampton Institute, her Juris Doctor from the Saint
12Louis University School of Law, and her Master of Law from the
13Washington University School of Law; she was a former Assistant
14Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge was married to Richard G.
16Younge, also an attorney, and they had 3 children, Ruth
17(deceased), Torque, and Margaret, and 2 step-sons, Richard
18Younge, Jr. and Roland Younge; her daughter, Margaret, said
19that her mother drove 90 minutes each way to Springfield every
20day so she could see her children in the mornings and evenings;
21and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge was one of the longest-serving
2members of the Illinois House; her legislative priorities
3included urban renewal, substance abuse treatment, services
4for the homeless, and economic development; she was a public
5servant dedicated to equality and community progress; she
6received the "Best Legislator" award from the United Auto
7Workers in 1993; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge was a loyal believer in
9education and economic development, fighting hard to keep the
10community college in East St. Louis and to bring the Casino
11Queen there, and for any cause that would help her district;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge set the framework for
14Illinois's Homeless Bill of Rights; she sponsored House Bill
154116 in 2004, which passed the House of Representatives but did
16not receive a vote in the Senate; it contained several
17provisions that are now law, including the right for homeless
18people to access emergency medical care, the right to vote, and
19the privacy of personal records; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge's dedication and hard work for
21the people of her district, and on a larger scale - the
22contributions she has made for the advancement of African
23Americans in government, deserves to be remembered; therefore,

 

 

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1be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4during Black History Month, we recognize the late State
5Representative Wyvetter H. Younge for the all she has done; and
6be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Wyvetter H. Younge as an expression
9of our esteem and respect.