Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HR0189 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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3	3	1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
4	4	2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
5	5	3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Jerry
6	6	4 "Iceman" Butler, a towering figure in American music, a
7	7	5 trailblazing public servant, and a cherished son of Illinois,
8	8	6 who passed away on February 20, 2025; and
9	9	7 WHEREAS, Born to sharecropper parents in Mississippi,
10	10	8 Jerry Butler's journey was one of perseverance, talent, and
11	11	9 profound impact; at the age of three, his family sought
12	12	10 greater opportunity in Chicago, where he attended James A.
13	13	11 Sexton School and later studied at Washburne Trade School,
14	14	12 preparing for a career as a chef before his extraordinary
15	15	13 musical gifts set him on a different path; and
16	16	14 WHEREAS, Jerry Butler's rich, soulful, and unmistakable
17	17	15 voice became the soundtrack of a generation; as a founding
18	18	16 member of The Impressions, he performed globally with the
19	19	17 group, pioneering the Chicago Soul sound that blended gospel
20	20	18 roots with R&B; his contributions were recognized with his
21	21	19 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991; and
22	22	20 WHEREAS, Jerry Butler's solo career saw unparalleled
23	23	21 success with chart-topping hits, such as "For Your Precious
24	24	22 Love", "Only the Strong Survive", and "Never Gonna Give You
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33	33	1 Up"; as a three-time Grammy Award nominee, his music has been
34	34	2 sampled and revered by many modern artists, including Missy
35	35	3 Elliott, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, and The Game, proving his
36	36	4 lasting influence across generations; and
37	37	5 WHEREAS, Beyond the stage, Jerry Butler was a man of
38	38	6 service, leadership, and commitment to his community; he
39	39	7 served as a Cook County Commissioner representing the 3rd
40	40	8 District, which included parts of Chicago's South Side, from
41	41	9 1985 to 2018; with the backing of Chicago Mayor Harold
42	42	10 Washington, he embarked on a remarkable 32-year political
43	43	11 career, where he chaired the Health and Hospitals Committee
44	44	12 and worked tirelessly to expand access to health care for
45	45	13 underserved communities; and
46	46	14 WHEREAS, During his time in public service, Jerry Butler
47	47	15 found his true passion of ensuring health care for all, and one
48	48	16 of his most notable achievements was playing a key role in the
49	49	17 opening of John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, a critical healthcare
50	50	18 institution serving Cook County residents regardless of their
51	51	19 ability to pay; and
52	52	20 WHEREAS, Dedicated to the well-being of fellow artists,
53	53	21 Jerry Butler chaired the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, pushing
54	54	22 for retirement and medical benefits for musicians who had
55	55	23 given their lives to the industry but often lacked financial
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66	66	1 security in their later years; and
67	67	2 WHEREAS, Never one to stop learning, Jerry Butler earned
68	68	3 his master's degree in public administration from Governors
69	69	4 State University while continuing his work as a public
70	70	5 servant, a testament to his commitment to education, progress,
71	71	6 and the betterment of his community; and
72	72	7 WHEREAS, Jerry Butler's life was enriched by the
73	73	8 unwavering love and partnership of his wife, Annette Butler,
74	74	9 who he was married to for over six decades until her passing;
75	75	10 and
76	76	11 WHEREAS, Jerry Butler leaves behind a legacy carried
77	77	12 forward by his sons, Anthony and Randy, his four
78	78	13 grandchildren, his great-grandchild, and an entire city and
79	79	14 music industry forever shaped by his talent, vision, and
80	80	15 dedication to justice and progress; therefore, be it
81	81	16 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
82	82	17 HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
83	83	18 we mourn the passing of Jerry "Iceman" Butler, a musical
84	84	19 pioneer, a public servant, and an icon of Illinois, and extend
85	85	20 our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who
86	86	21 knew and loved him; and be it further
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97	97	1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
98	98	2 presented to the family of Jerry Butler as an expression of our
99	99	3 deepest sympathy.
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