Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR1533
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Full Text of SR1533  100th General Assembly

SR1533 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Dr. Agnes Lattimer of Hyde Park, who
4passed away on January 9, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer was born in Memphis, Tennessee to
6Arthur O'Neil and Hortense Lewis Lattimer on May 13, 1928; she
7was the oldest of six children; she was valedictorian of Booker
8T. Washington High School and received a full scholarship to
9Fisk University, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in
10Biology; she them moved to Chicago and worked as a housekeeper
11for 18 months to save for medical school; she graduated from
12Chicago Medical School, where she was the only African American
13in her class and one of just two women, in 1954; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer completed her residency in
15Pediatrics at Michael Reese Hospital and became Chief Resident
16in her final year of the program; following her residency, she
17established a private pediatric practice while also teaching at
18the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois and
19Chicago Medical School; she served as Director of Ambulatory
20Pediatrics and as Director of Fantus Health Center at Cook
21County Hospital; she was named Director of Cook County in March
221986 and was believed to be the only African American woman to
23head a major hospital; as Director of Cook County Hospital, she

 

 

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1oversaw safeguards to protect patients and staffers during the
2early days of AIDS; she testified in Washington, D.C. on the
3need to fight hunger; as the Chair of the Chicago Committee
4Against Lead Poisoning, she urged City Hall to crack down on
5owners of buildings with flaking lead paint; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
7Sorority Inc., which she joined as an undergraduate at Fisk;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, During her career, Dr. Lattimer received many
10honors and accolades, including being named as Pediatrician of
11the Year by the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of
12Pediatrics; she also received the Distinguished Alumnus Award
13from the Chicago Medical School and from the Michael Reese
14Alumni Association; she was named Outstanding Executive
15Employee in Cook County Government in 1987 and also received
16Outstanding Community Service Awards from many communities
17throughout the City; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer's marriage to Bernard Goss ended in
19divorce; in 1971, she married Frank Bethel; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Outside of medicine, Dr. Lattimer enjoyed flying,
21and she achieved her dream of earning a pilot's license in
221966; she loved the ability to fly to another county or city

 

 

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1for lunch or dinner; and
 
2    WHEREAS, According to her colleagues, Dr. Lattimer was a
3legend in medicine in Chicago; she was a leading expert in
4areas such as lead poisoning and its effects on childhood
5development; she was an advocate for quality healthcare for the
6underprivileged; she commanded respect and gave it, treating
7patients living in poverty with the same empathy she showed
8rich people; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer was preceded in death by her husband,
10Frank, and her son, Bernard Goss Jr.; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Dr. Lattimer is survived by her grandson, Bernard
12Goss III; her sister, Camille Lattimer; her nieces, Holly Jones
13and Sandra Love; and her nephew, Keith Jones; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
16Dr. Agnes Lattimer and extend our sincere condolences to her
17family, friends, and all who knew and loved her; and be it
18further
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20presented to the family of Dr. Lattimer as an expression of our
21deepest sympathy.