Full Text of SR0622 093rd General Assembly
SR0622 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the Ninety-Third | 3 |
| General Assembly were saddened to learn of the passing of Launa | 4 |
| Thompson of Oak Park on Sunday, June 20, 2004; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson was a native of Detroit, Michigan, | 6 |
| and earned her B.A. in sociology and vocational rehabilitation | 7 |
| from Wilberforce University in Ohio and a master's degree in | 8 |
| guidance counseling from the University of Cincinnati; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson switched from social work to sales | 10 |
| in the 1970s and had her first radio job with what was then | 11 |
| WVON/WGCI Radio in 1980, later working for the Gannett | 12 |
| Corporation, Black Entertainment Television, and two other | 13 |
| radio stations, before returning to WGCI as national account | 14 |
| manager in 1994, where she was promoted to general sales | 15 |
| manager in 1996; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson led WGCI AM/FM to become the top | 17 |
| billing radio station in Chicago for advertising sales revenue | 18 |
| in 1999, and a top billing station in the country, and was | 19 |
| named manager of the three Clear Channel Chicago stations, | 20 |
| WGCI-AM/FM and WVAZ-FM in November; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson, as manager of Chicago's top-rated | 22 |
| music station, was named the ninth most powerful woman in | 23 |
| Chicago media by the Chicago Sun-Times, and one of the most | 24 |
| influential African Americans in radio by the trade | 25 |
| publication, Radio Ink; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson did volunteer work for Wilberforce | 27 |
| Alumni Association, League of Black Women, Black Ensemble | 28 |
| Theatre, American Women in Radio and Television, Friends of | 29 |
| LaRabida Hospital, and Midwest Women's Center; helped raise | 30 |
| money for Wonder Works children's museum in Oak Park; and was |
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| active in the Apostolic Church of God; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson received the Kissei Award and was | 3 |
| recognized by "Dollars and Sense" magazine, "Radio and | 4 |
| Records", and the Broadcast Advertising Club of Chicago; she | 5 |
| was a public speaker and mentor for many individuals aspiring | 6 |
| to enter the broadcast sales arena; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson served as a role model for women | 8 |
| and minorities, and is remembered for her caring nature, charm, | 9 |
| extraordinary people skills, and as being an easygoing boss who | 10 |
| inspired loyalty; and
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| WHEREAS, Launa Thompson's passing was deeply felt by many, | 12 |
| especially her husband, Abe Thompson; her son, Phoenix; her | 13 |
| mother, Daisy B. Gaines; and her many colleagues, friends, and | 14 |
| family; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL | 16 |
| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of | 17 |
| Launa Thompson; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 19 |
| presented to the family of Launa Thompson as an expression of | 20 |
| our sorrow for their loss.
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