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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, PIONEERING SPIRIT, MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MEMORY OF CARL EDWIN DAVIS
WHEREAS, Carl Edwin Davis, a man whose life was devoted to social justice, family, and faith, died February 10, leaving friends, family and a community profoundly enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Carl Davis was a community leader who, as President of the Evanston NAACP led voter registration drives, fought for equal employment opportunity and created a weekly community forum entitled "Get in the Know" that brought together national, state and local leaders to address issues of concern for the citizens of the region; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Davis freely and generously gave his time to his community, serving on the Evanston Community Hospital Board, the Board of Trustees of the Second Baptist Church in addition to many others; and
WHEREAS, Carl Davis was a lifelong Evanston resident, attending Evanston public schools and graduating from Evanston Township High School in 1955. He worked for the city of Evanston until he left to serve his country in the United States Army in 1959; and
WHEREAS, Carl Davis returned to Evanston after his discharge and became the first black sales associate at Henry C. Lytton Company and later forged new ground as the first black insurance agent on the North Shore working with Prudential Insurance Company where he set sales records and was inducted into the Million Dollar Round Table of the Prudential Insurance Company of America; and
WHEREAS, Carl Davis was a dedicated husband and father. He married Yvonne Nicholas and the two were the proud parents of two sons, Karl Gregory Davis and Jared Nicholas Davis. He was a doting grandfather to Allyssa, Aarynn, Nicholas, Lauren and Myah. Not only did Carl volunteer in the classrooms of his children he helped to organize NYPUM (National Youth Program Using Mini-Bikes) and a school breakfast program that benefitted countless other children in the community; and
WHEREAS, Carl Davis was a successful entrepreneur who, once retired from Prudential created a number of thriving businesses: Aarynn/Allyssa Trucking, A North Shore Courier, Design Mortgage Corporation, Davis Transportation, and Davis Environmental Laboratories; and
WHEREAS, Carl Davis enthusiastically believed in the value of diversity which lead him to create "The Way We Were," a series of public speaking engagements that focused on the elements that provided Evanstonians of all races a sense of pride in raising their families in such a diverse community. His grandson Nicholas was his technical assistant and producer for the series that can still be found on DVD. The series was groundbreaking and noteworthy not just for documenting "The Way We Were" but for its prescriptive component that pointed out the way we ought to be.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of Carl Edwin Davis, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the family of Carl Edwin Davis.end