Bill Text: IL SR1095 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Wadell Brooks Sr.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-11-16 - Resolution Adopted [SR1095 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SR1095-Introduced.html

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SR1095 LRB102 28231 LAW 40042 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
to learn of the death of Wadell Brooks Sr., who passed away on
July 4, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks was born to Willie and Canary
Brooks in Lexington, Mississippi on January 20, 1933; he was
the first Black student to graduate from East St. Louis Senior
High School and a centennial graduate of Illinois State Normal
University; he earned his Bachelor of Science in Business
Education, with a minor in Physical Education; he received two
honorary doctoral degrees from Faith Grant College in
Birmingham, Alabama; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks accepted his first position in
federal civil service as an educational therapist under
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service in charge of
Commercial Studies at the VA Medical Center, where he remained
for 11 years; he then held several positions at the Great Lakes
Naval Training Center, serving as educational specialist for
two years, director of Housing Assignments/Referral Service
for nine years, and deputy of the Equal Employment Opportunity
Office for 11 years; he retired after completing 35 years of
federal civil service on November 30, 1990, which included two
years serving in the U.S. Army and 16 months in Korea, from

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which he received the Korean Service Medal; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks started a business alongside his
wife in the human services field, creating a day care, infant
care, and group home for girls by securing financing
assistance from the Small Business Administration; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks was deeply involved in community
activities; he initiated and hosted NAACP Focus, a weekly
radio talk show on WKRS-AM 1220 that aired every Sunday
morning; he also hosted the weekly local Comcast Community
Access talk show Community Forum on Channel 17, and he
received the Best of Lake County First Production by a
Producer Award for his show in 1994; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks belonged to several organizations,
including District 64's Board of Education, the non-profit
Dads Are Doing Something, Inc., and the North Chicago District
187 Schools' Dads for Education; he was a past president of the
North Chicago Rotary Club, the North Chicago Branch of the
NAACP, and the North Chicago Chamber of Commerce; he served as
chairman and on the board of directors of the Lake County Race
Unity Task Force; he was a past master of Rufus Mitchell
Masonic Lodge #107, and he was named 1998 Prince Hall Mason of
the Year for the State of Illinois and earned the honorary 33rd
degree of masonry in 1988; he was also a past patron of Emblem

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Chapter #140 of the Order of the Eastern Star; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks committed to his faith at the
Southern Mission Baptist Church in East St. Louis at the age of
13; he later served as deacon of the Shiloh Baptist Church and
as trustee of the Mt. Sinai Institutional Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS, Wadell Brooks received a number of accolades,
including being named the 1984 Lake County Urban League
Business Person of the Year and the Most Influential African
American of Lake County; he received the 1996 Charles E.
DeRivera Memorial Award, the 1999 Life Models Award from the
Omni Society, and the 2002 David Kellum Award from the
National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of the United States of
America; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Wadell Brooks 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 Wadell Brooks as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.