HR0121 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0121 LRB097 10845 KXB 51339 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, State Representative Monique D. Davis and the members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Benjamin C. Duster III of Chicago, who passed away on February 11, 2011; and

WHEREAS, He was the grandson of Ida B. Wells, legendary anti-lynching crusader; she was born a slave and later became a journalist, suffragist, and a founder of the NAACP; and

WHEREAS, He was born in Bronzeville and grew up during the Depression; he was the oldest of five children born to Alfreda and Benjamin Duster; he was influenced by his mother, who graduated from the University of Chicago and was sought out by many for her guidance; and

WHEREAS, He attended Wendall Phillips High School and graduated as class valedictorian at the age of 16; he studied electrical engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and joined Alpha Phi Alpha; after the passing of his father, he returned home to help his mother, working as a bricklayer and running an auto garage and construction firm, all while attending night classes at DePaul University to become a lawyer; and

WHEREAS, He served in the United States Army as an ordnance technician in the early 1950s; he ran against political powerhouse "Big Bill" Dawson for the 1st District congressional seat in 1962, losing the election but taking on the political "Machine" of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, He earned his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1967 and worked at the investment firm of G.H. Walker & Company; his volunteer work with education in the late 1960s and early 1970s helped bring about later school reform; and

WHEREAS, He opened his own law firm and worked there for 30 years, specializing in residential and commercial real estate; he was president of Seaway Communications for a brief time; he was named chair of the Illinois Commission on Human Rights by former Illinois Governor Richard Ogilvie, serving from 1971 to 1973; and

WHEREAS, He loved barbecuing ribs and shrimp on a large grill he fashioned himself; he loved deviled eggs, theater, especially works by August Wilson, and "Les Miserables"; and

WHEREAS, Benjamin C. Duster III is survived by his wife, Murrell; his son, Benjamin Duster IV; his brothers, Donald and Troy; his daughters, Alice Pennamon and Muriel DeVore; his sister, Alfreda Duster Ferrell; and his 11 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Benjamin C. Duster III; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Benjamin C. Duster III as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.