SR0256 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0256 LRB096 12583 GRL 25873 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Alton L. Gill, Sr. who passed away on April 17, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Alton L. Gill, Sr. was born on December 20, 1914 in Brookhaven, Mississippi; he was born to the union of John Gill and Ruth Carter; he married Celestine Bunch on November 20, 1936; and

WHEREAS, After relocating to Chicago from Mississippi as a child, Alton L. Gill, Sr. began his education at Doolittle Grammar School and Oakland Grammar School, before moving on to St. Elizabeth High School and graduating at Wendell Philip High School; and

WHEREAS, Alton L. Gill, Sr. was employed at Northwestern Railroad as a Pullman porter in the dining room car for over 20 years; as a child, he served as an apprentice at Joe Horowitz Meat Market in the Bronzeville neighborhood; his apprenticeship enabled him to pursue his dream of establishing his own business, a supermarket in Griffith, Indiana; he also pursued farming in Michigan and became an agricultural entrepreneur, raising farm animals and crops which he later sold in Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Alton L. Gill, Sr. served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the Illinois National Guard for nine years; and

WHEREAS, Alton L. Gill, Sr. enjoyed ballroom dancing, fishing, and collecting coins; and

WHEREAS, Alton L. Gill, Sr. accepted Christ at an early age; he would later join the Catholic Church through the St. Columbanus Parish and serve as a long-time member of St. Dorothy Catholic Church and St. Dorothy's Holy Name Society; in his later years, he attended St. Sabina while living as a resident of the St. Sabina Elders Village; and

WHEREAS, Alton L. Gill, Sr. is survived by his children, Alton Jr. (Madeline) and LaVergne (Bob); his grandchildren, Lynette (Bruce), Adam, Aaron (Malikah), and Robert; his great-grandchildren, Bruce, Jr., Naimah, Noah, and Dakari; his stepsons, Bill (Shirley) and John; and his many loving cousins 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 Alton L. Gill, Sr.; and be it further

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