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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory of Dr. Robert 1
L. Douglas. 2
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas was a native of Louisville, Kentucky, who was 3
born on August 3, 1934. He was raised in his beloved Smoketown neighborhood with his 4
eight brothers and sisters and a cherished niece; and 5
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas graduated from Central High School in 1953. 6
He went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts from the University of 7
Louisville in 1963. He earned his Master's Degree from the University of Iowa in 8
American Studies with an emphasis in Pan African Studies in 1981. Dr. Robert L. 9
Douglas continued his studies under Dr. Darwin Turner, renowned Pan Africanist, and in 10
1983 earned his PhD in the same discipline; and 11
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas utilized his degrees and accepted a post as an 12
Assistant Professor in the Pan African Studies Department at Ohio University in Athens, 13
Ohio. Longing to return to his home city, he returned to Louisville and accepted a joint 14
appointment as Assistant Professor in both the Department of Pan African Studies and 15
the Department of Art History at the University of Louisville; and 16
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas excelled in his teaching career and served as 17
chair of the Department of Pan African Studies at the University of Louisville from July 18
1989 to June 1995; and 19
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas sought to expand his knowledge of art and Pan 20
African studies throughout Louisville and Kentucky. In 1991, he helped to create the Pan 21
African Institute for teachers at the University of Louisville, a two-week summer institute 22
for Jefferson County Public School teachers aimed at supporting multi-culturalism. He 23
served as a member of the conference planning committee for the Black Family 24
Conference at the University of Louisville from 1986 to 2000. Dr. Douglas served as the 25
curator for a number of traveling art exhibitions, including the African American 26
Contemporary Art at the Gibellina Museo Civico D'Arte Contemporanea, Universita Di 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1457
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Palermo Sicily in 1990. He was appointed by the governor to serve two terms on the 1
Kentucky African American Heritage Commission. Dr. Robert L. Douglas was also the 2
author of numerous scholarly articles, exhibition catalogs, and two books which focused 3
on African American art and poetry; and 4
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas had a spirit for adventure and traveled 5
throughout the world. He made trips to France, Spain, Switzerland, West Africa, North 6
Africa, Egypt, and India. An accomplished researcher and scholar, he enjoyed interacting 7
with his students while championing them to embrace a multicultural education. At the 8
time of his passing, he was a Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisville; and 9
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas died on February 8, 2023, and was preceded in 10
death by his parents, Ura and Inez (Dawson) Douglas; his siblings, Hazel (Reed), Susie 11
(Jones), Dorothy (Anderson), Charlotte (Miller), Janet (Woodard), Ura, John, and Charles 12
Douglas; and 13
WHEREAS, Dr. Robert L. Douglas is survived by his devoted wife of 44 years, 14
Laura; eight children, Madonna Clark, Robrina Davis, Sonya Burke, Ava Douglas, 15
Robert Douglas Jr., Mitchell Douglas, Dara Douglas, and Dr. Camara Douglas; niece, 16
Eunice Easton; sixteen grandchildren, Martina McElroy, Shannon McElroy, Christopher 17
McElroy, Douglas McElroy, Mikell Johnson, Nicole Douglas, Kenton Burke, Keenen 18
Burke, Anja Taylor, Ayanna Taylor, Antonia Taylor, Mitchell Douglas, Nia Douglas, 19
Camaya Douglas, Camara Douglas, Jr., and Ra'Miyah Sims; and 21 great-grandchildren; 20
NOW, THEREFORE, 21
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 22
Kentucky: 23
Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby extend their most profound 24
sympathy upon the passing of Dr. Robert L. Douglas, and posthumously thank him for 25
his many contributions to advancing Pan African Studies to students and citizens of 26
Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1457
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Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 1
memory of Dr. Robert L. Douglas, PhD. 2
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 3
Resolution to Senator Gerald Neal for delivery to the family. 4