HR0117 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0117 LRB103 31287 MST 58471 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Representative Raymond Whitney Ewell, who passed away on October 28, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell, the second child of Whitney and Severine Ewell, was born in Chicago on December 29, 1928; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell excelled academically as an adolescent, attending Corpus Christi Elementary School and later graduating from Englewood High School in Chicago in 1946; and

WHEREAS, Following high school, Rep. Ewell earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois in 1949, a Master of Arts in 1951, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Chicago in 1954; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell's commitment to service began with his military conscription into the U.S. Army, and after concluding his military career with an honorable discharge, he re-established himself in the legal field, practicing law for 53 years and becoming a partner at the law offices of Ewell, Graham, McCormick, Ross and Davidson; and

WHEREAS, After years of participation in the 17th Ward Regular Democratic Organization, Rep. Ewell was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives and served the 29th District from 1967 to 1983; and

WHEREAS, At the height of the Civil Rights Movement in 1967, Rep. Ewell, along with State Representatives Harold Washington, Louis A. H. Caldwell, Otis Collins, Kenneth Hall, and Calvin L. Smith and Senators Richard H. Newhouse and Charles Chew Jr., founded the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure in office, Rep. Ewell served in numerous leadership roles, such as chairman of the Illinois House Higher Education Committee, chairman of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and chairman of the National Society of State Legislators; and

WHEREAS, While in office and following his retirement from the Illinois General Assembly, Rep. Ewell was an active member in numerous organizations, including the Federal Public Defender Program, the Cook County Bar Association, the NAACP, the Washington Park Y.M.C.A., the Southtown Y.M.C.A, the Business Men's Association, the St. Carthage Grooming School for Boys, and the Perry Avenue Block Club; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce Ewell; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Ewell is survived by his wife, Marcia Ewell; his sons, David Raymond, Marc Whitney, Raymond Anthony "Tony", Anthony Romain, and Marcus Alleyne; his grandchildren, Marc Jr., Kareim, Raymond Anthony Jr., Kendall, Drew, Diana, Cameron, and Ala; and his great-grandchildren, Silas, Kai, Aiyanna, and Kree; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Representative Raymond Whitney Ewell and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rep. Ewell as an expression of our deepest sympathy.