RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Richard Overton has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 112; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Richard Overton was the oldest-living man in the United States and the oldest World War II veteran; and
WHEREAS, Richard Overton volunteered to become a member of the United States Army while in his 30s and arrived in Hawaii in 1941 shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; and
WHEREAS, Richard Overton was born near Austin, Texas and served in the all African-American 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion; and
WHEREAS, Richard Overton was at Okinawa and I wo Jima where he said he "only got out of there by the Grace of God"; and
WHEREAS, Richard Overton was honored by President Barak Obama at a Veteran's Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement upon the passing of Richard Overton that called him "an American icon and a Texas legend"; and
WHEREAS, Strangers would often drop by Richard Overton's house to meet him and he drove his custom-made Ford F100 pick-up to church well into his early 100s; and
WHEREAS, The courage, sacrifice and dedication of Richard Overton serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Richard Overton 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, Richard Overton 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 family, Richard Overton 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-third day of January, 2019, do hereby commemorate Richard Overton for his grace-fi...
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