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92_SR0492
LRB9217646RHrh
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to
3 express their sincerest condolences to the family and friends
4 of Jeffrey Paul Radford, minister of music at Trinity United
5 Church of Christ in Chicago, who passed away on August 12,
6 2002; and
7 WHEREAS, Mr. Radford, a South Side resident, began his
8 music ministry at Trinity in October 1972; he was described
9 as the "right arm" of the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Trinity's
10 pastor, in leading the membership from fewer than 100 people
11 in 1972 to 8,000 today, the largest congregation among the
12 6,000 churches in the United Church of Christ; at his death,
13 Trinity's seven choirs included 950 singers; and
14 WHEREAS, Mr. Radford's musical genius extended far beyond
15 the walls of Trinity United Church of Christ; within the
16 United Church, he taught courses at Chicago Theological
17 Seminary, led workshops all around the country, and was a
18 featured organist and choir director for many national
19 events; his work with the James Cleveland Gospel Music
20 Workshop of America, the Thomas Dorsey Music convention, and
21 his international fame led to him to be invited to bring the
22 Sanctuary Choir and the Women's Chorus of Trinity to
23 Switzerland on three occasions; and
24 WHEREAS, Mr. Radford led a delegation of African-American
25 musicians to Cuba to teach gospel music to the Afro-Cubans
26 and to show the Cuban Church how the African-American musical
27 tradition had breathed life into the African-American Church;
28 he also traveled with selected choir members to Puerto Rico
29 to represent the United States at a national youth
30 conference; and
31 WHEREAS, Mr. Radford was influential in developing two
32 hymnals within the past decade, "The New Century Hymnal of
-2- LRB9217646RHrh
1 the United Church of Christ" and the "African-American
2 Hymnal"; in September, Mr. Radford was scheduled to be
3 awarded the degree of doctor of arts from Chicago Theological
4 Seminary; he will receive it posthumously; and
5 WHEREAS, Mr. Radford is survived by two brothers, William
6 M. Radford and Rollo A. Radford; and a nephew, Calvin;
7 therefore, be it
8 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SECOND GENERAL
9 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
10 all who knew him, the death of Jeffrey Paul Radford of
11 Chicago; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13 presented to the family of Jeffrey Paul Radford with our
14 sincere condolences.