RICHARD M. DALEY
MAYOR
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
November 3. 2010
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith a resolution honoring the life and memory of Vance Henry, Sr. Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on October 1, 2010, at age 70, of William Vance Henry, a community leader, civil rights activist and distinguished Chicagoan; and
WHEREAS, Born in Chicago on November 20, 1939, Mr. Henry graduated from DuSable High School on the South Side of Chicago, where he was a proficient fencer and swimmer. An accomplished athlete, Mr. Henry later played semi-professional tennis; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henry was a devoted member of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, where he actively participated in Sunday school classes, regularly attended Sunday morning worship services, and vigorously engaged in other church activities; and
WHEREAS, A veteran political guru, Mr. Henry was an active member of the Young Democrats of Cook County, and in the 1960s, he worked in several historic mayoral campaigns, including that of Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana, Carl Stokes of Cleveland, Ohio, and Kenneth Gibson of Newark, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henry also served and volunteered with a number of prominent National and local political figures in various capacities, including as the Director of Youth and Elderly Programs for former United States Congressman Charles Hayes and as a Precinct Captain in the 2nd Democratic Ward for United States Congressman William Dawson; and
WHEREAS, A champion of the civil rights movement and longtime community activist, Mr. Henry served under the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as an organizer of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and helped the establishment of Dr. King's Workshop, where many pastors and local activists were trained in nonviolent social change strategies, a mission which later evolved into Operation Breadbasket, the precursor of Operation P.U.S.H.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henry generously gave of his time to serve in several community and civil organizations, including the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees), Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the Rat Pack, the N.A.A.C.P., the Chicago Urban League, and Lake Meadows Tennis Club; and
WHEREAS, A dedicated public servant, early in his career Mr. Henry served the City of Chicago as a legal investigator in the Department of Law, and, after working for years in the private sector, he returned to public service and diligently served in Chicago's Department of Buildings until his retirement in 2006; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henry held many esteemed positions with several corporations, including Black Media Inc., Dollar and Sense magazine, Jack Daniels Liquor, Summit Sales Company, and National Newspapers Publishers Association; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henry's long and distinguished career included working in the entertainment industry with internationally renowned entertainers and celebrities, including Sammy Davis, Jr., Ray Charles, Isaac Hayes, Delia Reese, Roberta Flack, Johnny Mathis, Jerry Lewis, Liza Minelli, and Frank Sinatra; and
WHEREAS, An extraordinary man, who served numerous people, businesses and organizations with his unique and multifold talents, and whose commitment to civil rights and community service never waned, Mr. Henry will always be remembered for his many contributions to the City of Chicago, and for his inspiration, courage, faith, and hope; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Henry is survived by his son, Reverend Vance T. Henry; his daughter, Nia Adams Augustine; his brothers, Norman, Charles, and Maurice; his sister, Eleanor, and a host of other relatives and family members; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this third day of November, 2010, do hereby honor the life and memory of William Vance Henry, and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of William Vance Henry as a sign of our sympathy and good wishes.