SR0205 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0205 LRB097 11672 KXB 54699 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Rufus Starks of Centreville, who passed away on March 11, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was born January 2, 1915, in Benton County, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Starks was the recipient of numerous honors, awards, and commendations for his hard work and service to the community; he received accolades from the NAACP, Phi Delta Kappa, the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the East St. Louis Teacher's Union Local 1220, and the American Federation of Teachers; his Masonic honors included: serving as the 28th most worshipful grand master of Prince Hall Masons State of Illinois and its Jurisdiction 1985-1986 and as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the United Supreme Council A.A.S.R.P.H.A.; and

WHEREAS, In 1955, he was a charter member of the East St. Louis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; he had served as a Trustee of Wiley College, Police Commissioner for the City of Centreville, Chaplain of the St. Clair County Jail, a member of Ministers United Against Human Suffering, as well as many other positions of service; and

WHEREAS, He was a junior high school teacher, an assistant and head football coach, assistant principal and principal at the junior high school level, assistant high school principal, assistant superintendent of schools, and superintendent of schools for East St. Louis School District 189; he also served as the East St. Louis Park District Superintendent; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma, nee Wren, Starks, with whom he shared 49 years of marriage; his parents, Oliver and Willie, nee Williams, Starks Jr.; his brother, Nathan Starks; and his son, Oliver Starks; and

WHEREAS, He leaves to mourn his passing his daughters, Ruth J. Starks and Gwendolyn W. Hill; his grandsons, Justin Hill and Broderick Hill Jr.; his godsons, Michael P. Johnson and Melvin Frierson; his goddaughter, Gwendolyn Hoosman-Jones; his special nephew, Cecil (Twanna) Barnett; his cousins, Joyce Gaddis and Barbara Vaughn; his devoted niece and caretaker, Katrina R. Sturdivant; his caretakers, Iola Harrington and Pearl McCorkle; his 6 brothers-in-law; his 7 sisters-in-law; and a host of other relatives and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Dr. Rufus Starks; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Dr. Rufus Starks as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.