SR0229 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Blakey, who passed away on April 1, 2009; and

WHEREAS, John Blakey was born on March 18, 1940 in Brent, Alabama; he was the son of George and Queenie Blakey; he married Evonne Alexander on June 29, 1963; and

WHEREAS, In 1945, John Blakey and his family moved to Chicago in search of better employment and educational opportunities; he attended and graduated from St. Charles Borromeo Elementary and St. Philip High School; he earned his bachelor's degree from DePaul University in 1962 and his Master's of Business Administration from the University of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, John Blakey was employed in numerous positions in the private and public sectors; he worked for the Social Security Administration and the Veterans Administration; he served as vice president of MICA, Inc., A.G. Becker and Co., and Becker Securities Corp.; he was president of his own consulting firm, Blakey Services, Inc., for four years; he worked as a part-time adjunct professor at Chicago State university and Governors State University; after completing School Business Management training at Northern Illinois University, he served as chief school business official for Harvey School District 152, North Chicago Unit School District 187, and Bremen High School District 228, from which he retired in 2006; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement, John Blakey served as Interim Director of Business Operations for Thornton High School District 205 from 2006 to 2008 and at Riverdale School District 133 from 2008 until his passing; and

WHEREAS, John Blakey was a member of Toastmasters, where he was widely regarded as an eloquent public speaker, and was a charter member of the Glenwood/Thornton Toastmasters; he served as a member of the Brookwood District 167 Board of Education from 1983 until his passing, serving as secretary, vice president, and president during his tenure; he was a chairperson of the Reclaim A Youth (RAY) of Illinois Advisory Board and served on the RAY Scholarship and College Orientation Committee; he was also a member of the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, the Homewood Rotary, and the Glenwood Lions Club; and

WHEREAS, John Blakey was preceded in death by his father and his brothers, Jeff (Valeria) and George Jr.; and

WHEREAS, John Blakey is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Evonne; his son, Randall (Sonya); his daughter, Ricia (Trenton) Taylor; his grandchildren, Noel, Destinee, Justice, and Zion; his mother; his brother, James (Monica); his mother-in-law, Christine Alexander; his sister-in-law, Deborah (Jerry); and his many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of John Blakey; and be it further

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