RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Jolyn H. Robichaux has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Jolyn H. Robichaux was a pioneering businesswoman and the loving wife of the late Joseph; and
WHEREAS, Jolyn H. Robichaux was the much-adored mother of Sheila and Joseph, Jr. and the grandmother of one to whom she imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that she possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A native of Cairo, Illinois, Jolyn H. Robichaux graduated from Chicago Teachers College and was the first African-American employee of Betty Crocker; and
WHEREAS, Jolyn H. Robichaux later worked as a secretary and a fundraiser for a public relations firm; and
WHEREAS, In 1967 as a business investment, Jolyn H. Robichaux and her husband purchased the Baldwin Ice Cream Company which was founded in 1922 and was the first African-American-owned ice cream company in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, When her husband died suddenly of leukemia in 1971, Jolyn H. Robichaux took over the leadership of the South Side company and improved its deliveries and accounting; and.
WHEREAS, In 1984 Jolyn H. Robichaux became the second African American to open a food concession at O'Hare International Airport; and
WHEREAS, Jolyn H. Robichaux eventually expanded Baldwin Ice Cream into a major corporation with annual sales of more than $5 million by 1985; and
WHEREAS, In 1985 Jolyn H. Robichaux was named National Minority Entrepreneur of the Year by the U.S. Commerce Department and was presented with the award by Vice President George Bush; and
WHEREAS, Following a long and highly successful career, Jolyn H. Robichaux retired from Baldwin Ice Cream in 1992; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Jolyn H. Robichaux serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, To her beloved family, Jolyn H. Robichaux 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 twenty-ninth day of March, 2017, do hereby commemorate Jolyn H. Robichaux for her grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to her family; and