Bill Text: IL HR0818 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Harvey B. Ricks.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2014-02-18 - Resolution Adopted [HR0818 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0818-Introduced.html

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HR0818 LRB098 19863 MST 55081 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Harvey B.
Ricks, who passed away on January 24, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks was born in 1936 in Waukegan to
Philander, Sr. and Narvia (nee McKenzie) Ricks; he attended
Waukegan Township High School and Lake Forest College, where he
played football; he married Helen Gray in 1955; and
WHEREAS, In 1958, Harvey Ricks became the first
African-American employed at the North Shore Gas Company in
Waukegan; later on he was promoted to Supervisory Instructor in
Training and transferred to Peoples Gas in Chicago; in 1977, he
was named General Supervisor at Distribution-North at Peoples
Gas; he retired in 1992; and
WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks was active in many civic and social
organizations; he was a member of the Education Committee of
the Waukegan Area Conference on Race and Religion; he received
the Freedom Award in February of 1979 from the Men of Kappa Chi
Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in honor of
his involvement in the Whittier School Case during the 1960s;
he was a member of the Unicorns Organization, which gave
scholarships and provided food, blankets, and clothing to those

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in need; and
WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks enjoyed traveling to Europe, China,
Alaska, the Canary Islands, and the Caribbean; he attended the
Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles and in 1996 in Atlanta; he was
an avid gardener and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, bowling, and
music, and was self-taught in doing macrame, often providing
gifts to family and friends; and
WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks was preceded in death by his parents;
his brothers, McKenzie Ricks and Dr. Philander Ricks, Jr.; his
sister, Valda (Ricks) Whitehead; and his sister-in-law, Sylvia
Ricks; and
WHEREAS, Harvey Ricks is survived by his wife of 58 years,
Helen; his daughters, Valerie Renee Ricks and Dr. Harlene
(Fernando) Shipley; his son, Wayne (Stephanie) Ricks; his
grandchildren, Ahleo Ricks, Matthew and Rochelle Shipley,
Laura Ricks, Wayne II (Melanie) Ricks, and Keyana and Nathan
Ricks; his great-grandchildren, Jayden Shipley, Isaiah,
Aaliyah, and Mariah Ricks; his brothers-in-law, Bennie, Emery,
Elmer, and Ralph Gray; his sister-in-law, Barbara Ricks; his
special niece and nephews, Elise James, Dr. Philip Ricks, and
Rick Whitehead; his special cousins, Sherman McKenzie, Maxine
Allen, and Wilma Faye Lavant; and his special friends, James
Epperson and Darryl Bradshaw; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Harvey B. Ricks, 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 Harvey Ricks as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.