RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes was a retired Ohio Congressman and the loving husband for 55 years of Jeanette "Jay"; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes was the much-adored father of the Honorable Angela, Shelley, Lori and Chuck, and the grandfather of seven to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, A World War II veteran, the Honorable Louis Stokes was raised in Cleveland where he practiced law before entering politics; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1968 and became the first African-American to serve as a member of Congress from the State of Ohio; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes served 15 years in Congress and during his tenure earned a reputation for his patience, leadership and analytical skills; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes was the Chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations in the late 1970s that concluded "scientific acoustical evidence established a high probability that two gunmen fired at President John F. Kennedy" and that the assassination of the Reverend Martin Luther King was likely the result of a conspiracy; and
WHEREAS, While on Capitol Hill, the Honorable Louis Stokes also led the Congressional Ethics Committee probe of the ABSCAM corruption investigation which resulted in the convictions of one senator and six house members; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes later served on the committee investigating the Iran-Contra affair; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Louis Stokes also became the first African-American to serve on the House Appropriations Committee, a powerful panel that makes funding decisions; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable Louis Stokes serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared the Honorable Louis Stokes 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, The Honorable Louis Stokes 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, the Honorable Louis Stokes 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-fourth day of September 2015, do hereby commemorate the Honorable Louis Stokes for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
Alderman - 14th Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of the Honorable Louis Stokes.