HR1311 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1311 LRB095 21466 GRL 50959 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Ronald L. Davis of Chicago, who passed away on May 7, 2008; and

WHEREAS, Ronald L. Davis was born on November 12, 1951 in Chicago; he was the oldest of five children born to Willie L. Davis and Mamie Houston; and

WHEREAS, Ronald L. Davis grew up on the South Side of Chicago, where he attended Catholic schools and Chicago Public Schools; he graduated from Parker Senior High School in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago in 1968; during his senior year, he was recruited by the University of Chicago, where he completed his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1974; and

WHEREAS, While attending the University of Chicago, Ronald L. Davis began a lifelong mission as an advocate for the empowerment of black people in the areas of education and politics; as a founding member of the Organization of Black Students, he was instrumental in bringing black students into the mainstream of student government on campus; and

WHEREAS, Ronald L. Davis earned two master's degrees, one in mathematics from East-West University and another in Computer Science from Chicago State University; he later taught C++ Programming at East-West University; and

WHEREAS, While employed at GMAC as a repossession officer and later at CNA Insurance as a programmer, Ronald L. Davis became involved in Chicago local politics; as an independent political consultant, he was a quiet force behind many successful political campaigns and worked with and advised many elected officials and aspiring political candidates; he developed and worked to implement a city-wide voter registration drive; as a consultant, he played a strategic role in the congressional campaigns of United States Senators Paul Simon and Charlie Hayes, the State Senate and congressional campaigns of United States Senator Barack Obama, the aldermanic campaigns of Sam Burrell, William Cousins, Billie Paige, Leslie Hairston, Freddrenna Lyle, Willie Cochran, and Perry Hutchinson, among others; among his favorite elected officials were Illinois State Representative Constance Howard and Robert Polk, Mayor of Burnham; he worked tirelessly as the Mid-South Coordinator for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and coordinate hundreds of volunteers for the Mayor's re-election campaign; he also volunteered thousands of hours with the NAACP and Vernon Jarrett's ACT-SO program; and

WHEREAS, In the 1990s, Ronald L. Davis joined the faculty of the City Colleges of Chicago's Kennedy-King campus, where he taught computer science and mathematics, eventually becoming chairman of the mathematics department; and

WHEREAS, Ronald L. Davis had a loyal circle of friends with whom he loved to discuss local political issues; and

WHEREAS, Ronald L. Davis is survived by his sisters, Diane Davis and Mrs. Joann Flynn; his twin brothers, Victor and Vincent Davis; his uncles, Edward Houston Sr. and James Albritton; his seven nieces, 12 nephews, and three great-nieces; his cousins, Mrs. Cynthia Scruggs (Eugene), Donna Williams, Beverly Albritton, Jean Albritton, Edward Houston Jr., Edward Houston III, and Gigi; and his extended family, known as his "inner circle", Lenore and Josh, Mercedes, Lloyd, Richard, Robert, Stephanie, Prentiss, Carolyn, and Al; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Ronald L. Davis; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Ronald L. Davis as an expression of our sympathy.