SR2258 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2258 LRB099 23515 MST 50989 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of William Garth Sr. of Chicago, who passed away on September 23, 2016; and

WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. grew up in rural Bessemer, Alabama, one of 15 children; and

WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. moved to Chicago and began working as a salesman at the Chicago Citizen papers, a weekly newspaper chain focusing on African-American communities; and

WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. purchased the chain approximately 35 years ago and became CEO and publisher; the papers, with a circulation of about 121,000, constitute the largest black-owned chain in the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, William Garth Sr. was elected Chair of the 480-newspaper Illinois Press Association, becoming the country's first African-American chief of a statewide press organization; and

WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. was a member of the Rainbow/PUSH board and publisher of PUSH magazine; he was a founding member of the Chatham Business Association; and

WHEREAS, After the passing of his son, Quentis Bernard Garth, William Garth Sr. started a scholarship foundation in his name, which has dispensed more than $1 million to college-bound students; and

WHEREAS, William Garth Sr. is survived by his son, William Darrell Garth Jr.; his daughter-in-law, Janice; his sisters, Geraldine Burgess, Orangie Garth, and Charlie Garth; his brothers, X Rashid, Robert Sr., Roosevelt, Jessie, Larry, Joseph, and Richard; three grandchildren; and seven 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 William Garth Sr., 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 William Garth Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.