Bill Text: IL SR0007 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of Ronnie Cruzat Lewis of Dolton.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-01-15 - Resolution Adopted [SR0007 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-SR0007-Introduced.html

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SR0007 LRB099 03647 MST 23657 r
SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of Ronnie Cruzat Lewis of Dolton, who passed
away on December 3, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Lewis was born in Lexington, Mississippi on
December 22, 1944 to Ulysses and Mirian Lindsey Lewis; he
graduated from the Lexington Attendance Center and Tennessee
State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in
Industrial Education; he earned his Master of Arts in
Administration and Supervision from Roosevelt University in
Chicago; he married Mary Blackwell on June 22, 1968 in
Indianapolis, Indiana; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Lewis worked as a teacher and administrator
at Harlan Community Academy for over 30 years, where he served
as acting principal, assistant principal, department
chairperson, and summer school program manager; while there, he
also served as Chairperson of the Professional Personnel
Advisory Committee, as Union Representative for the Chicago
Teachers Union, and as Chairperson of the Professional Problems
Committee; in May of 1998, he was endorsed by the Chicago Board
of Education at Chicago State University; he retired as
assistant principal in 2000; and

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WHEREAS, Ronnie Lewis settled his family in the Village of
Dolton in 1980, becoming one of the few African American
families in the village; in 1991, he became the first African
American trustee; he was appointed interim mayor in November of
2008 and was elected mayor in April of 2009; as mayor of
Dolton, he was committed to improving the quality of life; he
placed an emphasis on job creation, public safety, public
participation, and infrastructure improvement; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Lewis took the first of many trips to Ghana
in 2007; he helped provide books, laptops, and infrastructure
improvements for clean water; as part of African tradition, he
was appointed Chief of Dodofie and given the Kingship name Nana
Osabarimba; in 2012, the first water borehole was built in
Kadjebi, and in 2014, it was named the "Mayor Ronnie Lewis
Borehole"; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Lewis was preceded in death by his parents
and step-parents, Ulysses and Louise Dixon Lewis and Athaniel
and Mirian Lindsey Moody; and
WHEREAS, Ronnie Lewis is survived by his wife of 46 years,
Mary; his twin daughters, Angeline G. Lewis and Angelique K.
Lewis; his brother, Lawrence Lewis; his sister, Angela Y.
Moody; his uncle, Fred J. Lindsey; his 2 aunts, Edna Antee
Lewis and Muriel Lindsey Sullivan; his 3 godchildren, Joni West

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Driver, Natalie Mingo, and Willis Arnold Harris, III; his 2
brothers-in-law, Herschell Lavell and Howard (Towannda) Means;
his 4 sisters-in-law, Alaine Lewis, LaNatta Means, Twana Clark
(Danny) Gurien, and Carolyn Means; and many other loving
relatives and treasured friends; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
Ronnie Cruzat Lewis, 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 Ronnie Lewis as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.