HR0657 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0657 LRB102 26200 MST 35928 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The National Black McDonald's Operators Association is committed to helping African American communities by providing educational resources, promoting tolerance and acceptance, and empowering the people they serve through the state and local chapters of Black McDonald's Operator's Associations; and

WHEREAS, The Black McDonald's Operators Association of Chicago and Northwest Indiana is a local chapter of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association; and

WHEREAS, The Black McDonald's Operators Association of Chicago and Northwest Indiana participates actively in communities across Cook County, sponsoring back-to-school drives, the longstanding Bud Billiken Parade and Education Resource Scholarship Program, and the BMOA Scholarship for the United Negro College Fund; and

WHEREAS, Members of the Black McDonald's Operators Association of Chicago and Northwest Indiana include Akins Akinnagbe, Doris Boulrece, Vincent Hale, Derrick Lott, Marvin Spence, Cheryl Taylor, Derrick Taylor, Yolanda Travis, and Tonnette Williams; and

WHEREAS, The National Black McDonald's Operators Association encompasses 200+ independent Black franchisees from around the country, many of whom own and operate within the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Some cities in Illinois do not have local chapters of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association; however, those cities have Black owner/operators who uplift their communities; and

WHEREAS, McDonald's Owner/Operator Jimmy Williams, a native of East St. Louis, owns and operates over 20 McDonald's restaurants; through his entrepreneurship, he has consistently given back to the East St. Louis community by launching Archways to Opportunity, which provides financial academic assistance for McDonald's employees at all levels, by creating a mentorship program for young people, and by offering countless other donations of his time and talent to the East St. Louis community; and

WHEREAS, The meaningful efforts of the Black McDonald's Operators throughout the State of Illinois engage our local neighborhoods and embody the true spirit of family and community; and

WHEREAS, On December 21, 1968, Herman Petty of Chicago opened his first restaurant on Chicago's South Side at 6500 South Stony Island Avenue, making him the first African American McDonald's franchisee; and

WHEREAS, McDonald's partnership with Herman Petty opened the doors and gave hope to a generation of ambitious African American businessmen and women seeking a piece of the American Dream; by the end of 1969, there were 12 African American owned and operated McDonald's restaurants, mostly located in the Midwest; and

WHEREAS, The sharing of ideas, problems, and concerns among owner/operators eventually led to the formation of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association in 1972; and

WHEREAS, The founding members of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association who attended the first organized convention of the organization in May 1972 presided over by Herman Petty, who had the foresight to see the need for such an organization, were Sherman Claypool of Milwaukee, Wayne Embry of Milwaukee, Andrew Davis of Chicago, John Perry of Chicago, Mallory Jones of St. Louis, Noel White of Chicago, Lester Hairston of Chicago, Cloris Dale of Kansas City, Andrew Murrell of Kansas City, Walter Pitchford of Chicago, Benjamin Davis of St. Louis, and Edward Wimp of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, The tenacity and courage of these African American entrepreneurs and pioneers laid the foundation for what has become the most successful group of African American entrepreneurs in the United States today and has paved the way for the National Black McDonald's Operators Association to be partners and leaders, dedicated to providing resources across their communities in an effort to help build stronger neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, In May of 2022, the National Black McDonald's Operators Association will celebrate its 50-year anniversary; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the Illinois operators that are members of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association for their continued service to Illinois' youth and communities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Illinois Operators that are members of the National Black McDonald's Operators Association as a symbol of our respect and esteem.