RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Milton Pitts Crenchaw has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 96; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Milton Pitts Crenchaw was one of the original flight instructors for the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Milton Pitts Crenchaw was the much-adored father of Dolores, Countess and Erwin, the grandfather of seven and the great-grandfather of eight to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A member of our "Greatest Generation," Milton Pitts Crenchaw became a pilot at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama where he trained hundreds of pilots during the 1940s; and
WHEREAS, Milton Pitts Crenchaw was one of two supervising squadron members under Chief Pilot Charles A. Anderson who trained such legandary pilots as William T. Mattison, Charles Debow, Daniel "Chappie" James, Lieutenant Colonel Charles "Chuck" Dryden and Woodrow Crockett; and
WHEREAS, Following the war, Milton Pitts Crenchaw taught aviation courses at Philander Smith College from 1947 to 1953; and
WHEREAS, From 1972 to 1983, Milton Pitts Crenchaw worked as an equal opportunity officer with the United States Department of Defense and as a race relations officer at Fort Stewart in Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Milton Pitts Crenchaw was inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Milton Pitts Crenchaw was the subject of the book AirKansan: The Milton Crenshaw Story; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Milton Pitts Crenchaw serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Milton Pitts Crenchaw to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, Milton Pitts Crenchaw was an individual of great integrity and accomplishment who will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Milton Pitts Crenchaw imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this ninth day of December, 2015 do hereby commemorate Milton Pitts Crenchaw for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Milton Pitts Crenchaw.
