SR2444 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2444 LRB099 24081 MST 51724 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James K. Polk of Peoria, who passed away on November 8, 2016; and

WHEREAS, James Polk was born in Memphis, Tennessee to Charlie and Nellie (Jones) Polk on June 13, 1939; he married Virginia Kyle, Patricia Stokes, and then Patti; and

WHEREAS, For more than 50 years, James Polk demonstrated a passion for bringing people together to create substantive solutions that dealt with issues such as neighborhood development and involvement, economic development, social services, diversity, and civil rights; and

WHEREAS, James Polk was a Peoria County Board member from 1972 to 1976 and from 1982 to 1985, and Peoria City Councilman for the First District from 1985 to 1993, the first African American to be elected to those positions; he served on the Illinois Central College Board of Trustees since 1997 with eight years in leadership positions; he served on the Board of Trustees Greater Peoria Mass Transit-City Link since 2007; he was on the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for 10 years, where he served as Chairman; he served on numerous additional boards and committees; and

WHEREAS, James Polk received the 2015 Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Tom Connor Service Award, the 2015 Peoria Magazines Local Legends, and the 2006 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service Leadership Award; and

WHEREAS, James Polk was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, the Peoria Downtown Rotary Club, and the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, James Polk was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Kevin Polk; and

WHEREAS, James Polk is survived by his wife of 17 years, Patti; his children, Karen (Billy) Raymond, Jonelle (Daniel) McCloud, and Rebecca Polk; his stepchildren, Anika (Henry) Florez, and Joshua (Gina) Sterling; his brother, Sam (Jean) Polk; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James K. Polk, 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 Polk as an expression of our deepest sympathy.