SR0513 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0513 LRB102 20076 MST 28923 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Fred Louis Miller Jr. of Oswego, who passed away on September 1, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller was born in Decatur to Fred Louis Miller Sr. and Mildred Conerly on January 28, 1946; he was baptized at New Salem Baptist Church in Decatur, and as a teen directed the youth choir and participated in many other activities; he graduated from Douglas MacArthur High School in 1965, where he was class vice president as a junior and was involved with the cadet band, the concert band, the concert choir, the all-state music festival, the German club, football, baseball, and wrestling; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller enlisted in the U.S. Marines after graduating high school; his last station was the Moffett Naval Air Station near San Francisco; he married Gwendolyn Thomas on August 6, 1977; he received a Bachelor of Music Education from Millikin University in 1973 and earned a Master of Science in Music Ed-Choral at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller joined Valley View Community Unit School District 365 in Oswego in August of 1980 as their music teacher; he retired in June of 2011; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller and his family joined St. John AME Church in Aurora, where they served as Undershepards for the couples ministry, sang in the choir, and participated in other ministries; he also served on the trustee board; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller was a committed member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for 48 years; he was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. on May 1, 1973 under chapter Theta Omicron (Milliken University); he was a charter member of Theta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity since May 4, 1973 and a life member since June 1, 1982; he served as president of the Mu Mu Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. from 1988 to 1990 and was the longest-serving brother as the Area 3 Director; he served on almost every committee with the Mu Mu Lambda chapter, including education and as chair of the Beautillion Committee; he was an amazing singer and led the singing of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Hymn at the chapter, district, and regional levels; he also served as delegate for the Mu Mu Lambda chapter numerous times; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller was an avid supporter of the Quad County Urban League, where he was involved with the Teaching Skills That Matter program; he was an active member of Keystone Lodge #15, a Prince Hall Affiliate, for approximately 20 years, where he served a term as secretary; he was also a member of the Marquette-Joliet Consistory; and

WHEREAS, Fred Miller is survived by his wife of 44 years, Gwen; his son, Nick (Kenyetta); his grandson, Nicholas; his brother, Lynn; his sisters, Rev. Dana Miller and Susa (Steve) Miller-Smith; and numerous other relatives and friends; 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 Fred Louis Miller Jr. 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 Fred Miller as an expression of our deepest sympathy.