SR0251 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0251 LRB095 12481 GRL 37654 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Collins E. Brown, Sr. of Chicago, who passed away on June 9, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Collins E. Brown, Sr. was a member of the Chicago Fire Department for 35 years, having begun his career in 1954 and retiring as Battalion Chief in 1989; he held the positions of Acting Deputy District Chief, Battalion Chief, Captain, Chief Firefighter of Emergency Medical Services, Lieutenant, and Firefighter; and

WHEREAS, Collins E. Brown, Sr. received many awards, honors, and commendations, including the Lambert Tree Award Honorable Mention on five occasions and the Chicago Daily Defender Black Firefighter of the Year; he was recognized as one of the firefighters contributing the most to the Englewood area, listed in the Black Almanac as one of Chicago's first minority officers of the Chicago Fire Department, and noted in the DuSable Museum for his achievements and endeavors with the CFD; and

WHEREAS, Collins E. Brown, Sr. held memberships in the International Association of Firefighters, State of Illinois Emergency Medical Technicians, International Black Firefighters of America, and Operation PUSH Black Firefighters and Paramedics Association; he was a founding member of the Afro American Firefighters Association; and

WHEREAS, Collins E. Brown, Sr. was a member of Christian Hope Missionary Baptist Church for more than 40 years, where he served on the Usher Board and was a boy scout troop leader; and

WHEREAS, Collins E. Brown, Sr. was very athletic; he won the Golden Gloves Championship, was the recipient of the National Award for the Middleweight Class Boxing Championship of the World (Chicago), and was a boxing instructor of the CFD Navy Pier Gymnasium; he was a member of the USA Amateur Boxing Federation and served as a State of Illinois Licensed Athletic Judge; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Collins E. Brown, Sr.; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Collins E. Brown, Sr. as an expression of our sympathy.