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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Rudolph "Rudy" Davenport of Springfield, 
4who passed away on April 7, 2018; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Rudy Davenport was born in Georgia and grew up in 
6Chicago; he served in the Korean War  and moved to Springfield 
7in 1966; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Rudy Davenport was a leader in dozens of community 
9programs during his decades in the capital city; he was the 
10former president of Springfield's NAACP branch and the 2001 
11Copley First Citizen; he served as a founding member and 
12president of the Springfield and Sangamon County chapter of 
13Habitat for Humanity and was involved in the Citizens Club of 
14Springfield; he also participated in many other local 
15committees organized to improve community relations and 
16deliberate on racial matters; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, One of Rudy Davenport's most significant 
18achievements was his role in the federal lawsuit in the 1980s 
19that led to Springfield changing its form of government; he was 
20one of three black residents who filed suit charging the 
21minority vote in Springfield was diluted; the case led to the 
22creation of the city's current aldermanic form of government, 
 
 
SR1591- 2 -LRB100 21504 ALS 38311 r

1where the city is split into ten wards, and each ward elects a 
2member of the city council; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Rudy Davenport retired from the state Division of 
4Vocational Rehabilitation, where he served as an auditor, in 
51989; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Rudy Davenport will be remembered as a tireless 
7advocate for people whose rights were being compromised or 
8denied; he was articulate and principled, and would sit and 
9talk to anybody; one of his joys was singing bass in a church a 
10cappella group, Men of Grace; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL 
12ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
13Rudolph "Rudy" Davenport and extend our sincere condolences to 
14his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
15further
  
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
17presented to the family of Rudy Davenport as an expression of 
18our deepest sympathy.