A City Council Resolution Honoring the Life of
Melvin Wilson
WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom and judgment has called Mr. Melvin Wilson, an outstanding citizen of Chicago, to his everlasting reward and returned to the heavenly realm on March 9, 2022; and
WHEREAS, This august Chicago City Council body has been informed of his passing by the Honorable Michelle A. Harris, Alderman of the 8th Ward; and
How do you define the measure of a man? For Melvin Wilson, it meant being a compassionate man of integrity, oozing class and sophistication, caring deeply about the community, and being committed to civic engagement. Most of all - it meant putting family first.
WHEREAS, Melvin Wilson was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 22, 1934, to the union of Mattie (Pearson) and Thomas Wilson Sr. He was the fourth of eight children. Melvin and his siblings were all raised to work together because their father and six brothers laid the hard work ethic and entrepreneurial foundation for their family.
WHEREAS, He was raised in the church; he was baptized at West Point Baptist Church and later converted to Catholicism with membership at St. Dorothy's Catholic. Church. He was a long-standing member of St. Ailbe Catholic Church (now St. Katherine Drexel).
WHEREAS, Melvin received his education in the Chicago Public Schools, where he attended Doolittle Elementary and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He displayed leadership at a very early age. He held the position of Vice President of the January Class of 1953. He was a talented athlete, serving as the co-captain of the varsity football team. After high school, Melvin chose the trade of sheet metal as his career path.
WHEREAS, On April 30,1955, he married the love of his life, Bernice Keaton, and they shared 44 beautiful years of marriage. Their union blessed them with LaDonna and Stacey Lynn, both adoring Daddy's Girls. As a young man, he took on the responsibility of providing for his family. He landed an apprenticeship in 1953 at Blue M. Electric Company and enrolled in the five-point Heating & Air Condition Training Program at Westinghouse. With the knowledge and acquired skills, he secured a position at Leedal Stainless Steel Incorporated from 1955 to 1969. His responsibilities grew each year until he became a shop foreman and supervisor in charge of refrigeration and assembly.
WHEREAS, In January 1969, Melvin taught vocational education at Simeon Vocational High School. He desired to teach young men the skills that had propelled him professionally and financially. In addition to teaching, Melvin decided to attend Chicago State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional Education. Never one to be stagnant, Melvin was on to something new by 1984, where he served as treasurer at the Chicago Teachers Union, His mission was to fight for the fair rights ofthe Chicago Public School Teachers and the Paraprofessionals to ensure they had all the resources needed to perform their duties to the best of their ability and unencumbered by the policies of the Chicago Board of Education.
WHEREAS, After he retired, he enjoyed his leisure time in sunny Arizona, where
he enjoyed a rich social life and time for his favorite activity golfing. '
WHEREAS, He leaves to cherish his memory two daughters, LaDonna (Eustace) Romain, Stacey Lynn Wilson, grandson Jared Melvin Romain, great-granddaughter Kennedy, brothers Alvin (Richardean) Wilson,. Ernest (Carmelita) Wilson, sister Claudia (Roderick) Campbell, sister-in-law Gwendolyn (Tommy) Wilson and a host of nieces and nephews (to Robert, Lamar, and Thelma), caring relatives and friends; and
THEREFORE, Be It Resolved, That the Mayor and members ofthe City Council of the City of Chicago, do hereby express our deep sorrow on the passing of and extend to his family our sincere condolences; and
Michelle A. Harris Alderman, 8th Ward
Be It Further Resolved That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Mr. Melvin Wilson.