Bill Text: IL HR0944 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Thornal Washington.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2014-03-24 - Resolution Adopted [HR0944 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR0944-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Thornal
Washington, who passed away on March 15, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Thornal Washington was born on May 28, 1924; he
married Opal Warren on April 15, 1943; together, they had 2
children, Victor Washington and Gail Johnson; and
WHEREAS, Thornal Washington was a graduate of Dunbar High
School in Texarkana, Texas and earned his bachelor's degree
from Governors State University; and
WHEREAS, Thornal Washington made a career out of civic
service to the younger residents of Chicago Heights; he began
his career in civic service in 1949, when he organized the
Chicago Heights Improvement Association and served on the Board
of Directors for 10 years; from 1951 to 1961, he served as an
Advisory Board Member of Girl Scout Troop #621 in Chicago
Heights; from 1951 to 1994, he served as a Board of Directors
member and fiscal administrator of Calvary Missionary Baptist
Church in Chicago Heights; from 1957 to 1966, he served as a
member of the Chicago Heights Planning Commission; from 1957 to
1963, he served as the business manager for the Chicago Heights
Community Choir; from 1957 to 1961, he served as chief

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organizer and coach of the Kool Kids Girls Softball Team in
Chicago Heights from 1959 to 1967, he served as a community
service worker for the Illinois Youth Commission; and
WHEREAS, From 1960 to 1962, Thornal Washington served as
Chairman of the South Suburban Law and Order Committee; in
1960, he organized and established the Chicago Heights
Community Youth Committee; in 1961, he organized and
established the East Chicago Heights Community Youth
Committee; from 1968 to 1973, he served as Corrections
Community Service Worker for the Illinois Department of
Corrections, Juvenile Division, Community Services; in 1971,
he organized a series of state-wide Governor's Conferences on
Youth; from 1973 to 1976, he served as Corrections Community
Service Supervisor for the Illinois Department of Corrections;
and
WHEREAS, In 1974, Thornal Washington organized Hickory
House, a group home for juvenile boys, in Chicago Heights; in
1974, he served as liaison for Bloom, Thornton, and Rich High
Schools to address the issue of student unrest, drugs,
vandalism, and assault; in 1975, he served as a member of the
Task Force on Regionalization for the Illinois Department of
Corrections; and in 1976, he served on the Illinois Commission
on Delinquency Prevention, which replaced the Community
Service Unit, for the Illinois Department of Corrections; and

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WHEREAS, Thornal Washington served as Executive Director
of the Chicago Heights Community Youth Committee District
Supervisor for the Chicago Area Project for over 20 years; and
WHEREAS, For over 50 years, Thornal Washington dedicated
his life to serving the younger residents of Chicago Heights;
his dedication, commitment, and service set an example for them
to follow for generations to come; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of
Thornal Washington; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of Thornal Washington as an expression
of our sympathy.