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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE OF JAMES “JIM” BUCKNER
WHEREAS, Dr. James L. “Jim” Buckner was born on July 29, 1934, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to the late Clarence and Florence Buckner, a dentist and teacher, respectively; and
WHEREAS, Jim grew up and spent his early years of school in Vicksburg, later attending Virginia State University, then migrating north to Chicago and working on the railroad as a Pullman porter while attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he completed his BS and DDS degrees; and
WHEREAS, Jim became a dentist, following in his father’s footsteps; and
WHEREAS, Jim became a highly respected member of his profession with his own practice, also serving as president of the Lincoln Dental Society and operating dental offices at 50th Street and State Street and another at the Harbor Point condominiums near the Columbia Yacht Club; and
WHEREAS, Jim was an accomplished community leader, passionate about the betterment of African Americans and committed to community and economic empowerment; and
WHEREAS, as a young man, Jim was immersed in the civil rights movement, working along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Jim was president of the Chicago Urban League and was deeply involved with Chicago United and Operation Breadbasket, pressing for the hiring of more Black workers in the building trades and Black hiring at major companies. His work on behalf of others included the NAACP and numerous other civic and charitable organizations; and
WHEREAS, Jim was an entrepreneur, opening grocery stores and travel agencies and serving on the boards of the City Colleges and Seaway National Bank, one of Chicago’s first and largest Black-owned banks; and
WHEREAS, Jim became a director of Illinois Service Federal Savings and Loan, now known as GN Bank; and
WHEREAS, Jim became a soccer enthusiast after his two sons showed interested in the game, coaching teams in the South Side chapter of the American Youth Soccer Organization and later, travel teams who plated throughout the Chicago area and in tournaments statewide; and
WHEREAS, Jim became a licensed soccer referee by the U.S. Soccer Federation, and as years passed served as a referee assignor for schools through the South Side. In this latter role, Jim recruited, trained and mentored dozens of young and not-so-young soccer referees; and
WHEREAS, after surviving a heart-attack a decade ago, nothing could stop Jim from experiencing everything he wanted to do, from skydiving to obtaining a motorcycle license; and
WHEREAS, Jim loved traveling, and was able to visit virtually every continent including trips to the Amazon Basin, Ghana, Italy, South Africa, as well as going whitewater rafting in the Grand Canyon; and
WHEREAS, Jim, a longtime Bronzeville resident, passed away in his home on June 7, 2021, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Jim is survived by his partner Kimberly Eddington-Nance, sons Jordan (Lotus) and Justin, and daughter Ja’Saun), as well as several grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and
WHEREAS, Jim’s passing is mourned by his many friends from innumerable walks of life, and those he uplifted, coached and mentored for decades, from business colleagues to young soccer players and aspiring referees.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and the Cook County Board of Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of Cook County, hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family of Dr. James “Jim” Buckner, and honor the remarkable life and memory of this outstanding Cook County resident.
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