SR0644 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0644 LRB095 20763 GRL 49324 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Leon Finney Sr. of Chicago, who passed away on April 4, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was born in 1916 in Mississippi; he was the son of successful funeral home operator T.J. Huddleston; he moved to Chicago, where his aunt, Bertha Brody, lived; and

WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was the founder and owner of the Leon's Bar-B-Q chain; he founded the business in 1942, after the police broke up a bookie joint in the basement of a barbecue shop on East Garfield Boulevard in Chicago; after the raid, the owner offered to sell the barbecue restaurant for $700, the price of the refrigerator; after his father wired him the money, he opened Leon's Bar-B-Q, which has since become a staple of Chicago's culinary history and is particularly known for its tangy and sweet barbeque sauce; and

WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was active in running his popular chain of restaurants until his health began to decline; and

WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. was an active advocate of African-American business and community organizations, helping numerous African-Americans create many businesses in the City of Chicago and beyond; and

WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. is survived by his six children, Rev. Leon Finney Jr., Gwendlyn Woods, Michael, Michelle, Andre, and Zenobia Rene; and his nine grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Leon Finney Sr. will be remembered by all who knew and loved him for his dedication to his profession and his willingness to help his fellow entrepreneurs; 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 Leon Finney Sr.; and be it further

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