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1		HOUSE RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, During Black History Month it is important to
3		recognize those within the African American community who
4		contributed to the betterment of the State; and
5		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge (August 23, 1930 - December 26,
6		2008) was a Democratic member of the Illinois House of
7		Representatives, representing the 114th District from 1975
8		until 2008; she served as the Assistant Majority Leader and was
9		a member of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus; and
10		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge earned her Bachelor of Science
11		from the Hampton Institute, her Juris Doctor from the Saint
12		Louis University School of Law, and her Master of Law from the
13		Washington University School of Law; she was a former Assistant
14		Circuit Attorney for the City of St. Louis; and
15		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge was married to Richard G.
16		Younge, also an attorney, and they had 3 children, Ruth
17		(deceased), Torque, and Margaret, and 2 step-sons, Richard
18		Younge, Jr. and Roland Younge; her daughter, Margaret, said
19		that her mother drove 90 minutes each way to Springfield every
20		day so she could see her children in the mornings and evenings;
21		and

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1		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge was one of the longest-serving
2		members of the Illinois House; her legislative priorities
3		included urban renewal, substance abuse treatment, services
4		for the homeless, and economic development; she was a public
5		servant dedicated to equality and community progress; she
6		received the "Best Legislator" award from the United Auto
7		Workers in 1993; and
8		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge was a loyal believer in
9		education and economic development, fighting hard to keep the
10		community college in East St. Louis and to bring the Casino
11		Queen there, and for any cause that would help her district;
12		and
13		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge set the framework for
14		Illinois's Homeless Bill of Rights; she sponsored House Bill
15		4116 in 2004, which passed the House of Representatives but did
16		not receive a vote in the Senate; it contained several
17		provisions that are now law, including the right for homeless
18		people to access emergency medical care, the right to vote, and
19		the privacy of personal records; and
20		WHEREAS, Wyvetter H. Younge's dedication and hard work for
21		the people of her district, and on a larger scale - the
22		contributions she has made for the advancement of African
23		Americans in government, deserves to be remembered; therefore,

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1		be it
2		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3		NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4		during Black History Month, we recognize the late State
5		Representative Wyvetter H. Younge for the all she has done; and
6		be it further
7		RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8		presented to the family of Wyvetter H. Younge as an expression
9		of our esteem and respect.