Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR0823
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Full Text of SR0823  95th General Assembly

SR0823 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 


 
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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Bernard Jeffrey McCollough, more famously known
3 as the comedian Bernie Mac, was born on the Southside of
4 Chicago on October 5, 1957; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac attended the Chicago Vocational Career
6 Academy, where he produced talent shows for neighborhood
7 children and performed his own improvisation sketches; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac overcame many obstacles to make it from
9 the impoverished streets of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood
10 to a Hollywood success; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Although Bernie Mac became a professional
12 comedian in 1977 at the age of 19, when he took his act to
13 comedy clubs in Chicago; before his professional breakthrough,
14 however, he had already been telling jokes in front of a crowd
15 since his childhood, entertaining people at church, in parks,
16 and even on trains; and
 
17     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac's career as an actor and comedian
18 spanned over 30 years and included roles in movies including,
19 but not limited to, "The Original Kings of Comedy", "Ocean's
20 Eleven", "Friday", "Guess Who?", "Mo' Money", "Transformers",
21 "Life", and "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle"; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac's comedy routines offered both laughs
2 and insights into modern living and society that crossed over
3 racial boundaries and had a mainstream appeal; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac won a prestigious Peabody award for his
5 critically acclaimed performance in "The Bernie Mac Show",
6 which ran from 2001 to 2006; the show was also nominated for
7 Emmy and Golden Globe awards; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In 2004, Bernie Mac wrote an inspiring memoir,
9 titled "Maybe You Never Cry Again", which told the
10 hope-restoring humor of his poor childhood and his strict
11 upbringing being raised by his grandparents; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac was a loving and dedicated husband,
13 father, and grandfather; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Bernie Mac, the "King of Comedy", will be greatly
15 missed by his family, friends, and his fans; the comedy scene
16 will never be the same without him; therefore, be it
 
17     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
18 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, with profound
19 sorrow and deep regret, the death of the great comedian and
20 wonderful actor, Bernie Mac, at the young age of 50; and be it

 

 

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1 further
 
2     RESOLVED, That the memory of Bernie Mac will forever live
3 on and that we honor Bernie Mac for his work; and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5 presented to Rhonda McCollough, the wife of Bernie Mac, as an
6 expression of our sympathy.