HR0289 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0289 LRB099 08587 MST 28748 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of James C. Craven of Bellingham, Washington, who passed away on January 12, 2015; and

WHEREAS, James Craven was born in Greenfield, Tennessee on August 7, 1925 to Arlie and Addie Craven; his family moved to Chicago in the 1930s; he graduated from Lakeview High School, the University of Illinois, and the University of Illinois Law School; he served in the United States Army during World War II; he married Gloria Pheney in November of 1950; and

WHEREAS, James Craven, along with his wife, started a law practice in Springfield; he practiced law in Springfield until 1964, when he was elected to the Fourth District Appellate Court; he served until 1981, when he resigned from the court and resumed his law practice in Springfield; he began the practice of offering legal help to students in the Public Affairs Reporting Program at the University of Illinois at Springfield and to reporters and editors through the Illinois Press Association and Illinois Broadcasters' Association, which continue to this day; and

WHEREAS, James Craven also involved himself in many other cases and legislative matters involving First Amendment issues; in the early 1990s, the Press Association honored him with the creation and presentation of the James C. Craven First Amendment Award; the highlight of his legal work began in 1985, with the filing of the first of many cases he filed on behalf of the African American and Hispanic communities in Illinois and California under the federal Voting Rights Act; these lawsuits resulted in changes in the form of municipal and special district governments in Springfield, Danville, Peoria and Chicago Heights, which are designed to provide minority voters with the opportunity to elect representatives of their choice; and

WHEREAS, James Craven is survived by his wife, Gloria; his 4 children, William (Terri Tork), Nancy (Jim Claypool), Don (Denise), and Rebecca (Scott Linneman); and his 6 grandchildren, Joseph and David Craven, Anna and Meg Claypool, and Charlie and Dory Linneman; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James C. Craven, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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