title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
IN MEMORY OF THE HON. ABNER MIKVA
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva was born on January 21, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Henry and Ida Mikva; and
WHEREAS, after high school, Abner Mikva enlisted in the Army Air Corp during World War II; attended the University of Wisconsin before transferring to Washington University in St. Louis to be closer to his future wife Zoe; and
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva moved to Chicago to attend law school at the University of Chicago where he served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review and graduated cum laude; and
WHEREAS, in 1951 Abner Mikva clerked for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sherman Minton; and
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva served five consecutive terms in the Illinois General Assembly where he sponsored a myriad of legislation including: fair employment and open housing legislation, as well as working to overhaul the Criminal Code; and
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1968 from the 2nd Congressional District which he represented for two terms, and was elected again in 1975 from the 10th Congressional District which he represented for an additional two terms; and
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia after being appointed by President Jimmy Carter until 1994. At that time he became White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton; and
WHEREAS, Abner and Zoe Mikva founded The Mikva Challenge with the mission of developing youth to be informed, empowered, and active citizens and community leaders by engaging them in "action civics," or hands-on experiences, with the electoral and legislative process. The Mikva Challenge is now in 110 schools and reaches more than 6,000 students; and
WHEREAS, on Monday July 4, 2016, Abner Mikva died at the age of 90; and
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva is survived by his wife, Zoe, and three daughters: Mary, Laurie and Rachel.
WHEREAS, Abner Mikva inspired a generation of public servants through ...
Click here for full text