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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF OSCAR JAMES ARMSTRONG
WHEREAS, God in his infinite wisdom called Oscar James Armstrong from our midst; and
WHEREAS, Oscar Armstrong was the oldest of five children born to the late Simon and Flora Armstrong in Lee County, Ark; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong attended grammar school in Postelle AR, and St. Louis, MO. Mr. Armstrong graduated from Marianna’s Morton High School in 1951; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong enlisted in the U.S.Army serving three years during the Korean War and;
WHEREAS, after completing his tour of duty, he returned to Arkansas and enrolled in Arkansas Mechanical and Normal College, now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). While at Arknasas Mechanical and Normal, Mr. Armstrong was editor of the school yearbook for two years, a member of the student government, and named in Who’s Who’s in American Colleges and Universities in 1957;and
WHEREAS, In 1958 Mr. Armstrong graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science where the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at his commencement address. He also pursued continuing education and graduate studies at Roosevelt University, University of Illinois Circle Campus (now University of Illinois at Chicago), and the Center for Inner City Studies;and
WHEREAS, Oscar Armstrong met the love of his life Audrey Anne (Scott) whom he married in Chicago, IL on September 5, 1957 and remained married for 61 years. This union produced two children; Mark Fitzgerald Armstrong and Ingrid Renee Armstrong Doweary and
WHEREAS, Mr. Armstrong was employed as a teacher with the Chicago Public School System for 22 years. Mr. Armstrong taught at: Gladstone Elementary School, Pullman Elementary School, Fenger High School, and Bogan High School. He served as Chair of the history department at Crane Technical School. While at Crane, Mr. Armstrong served on a blue ribbon panel which lead to an Illinois law being passed which required teachers to teach Black History in the State’s public elementary and secondary schools; and
WHEREAS, Oscar Armstrong was active in various civic organizations including a life membership with AMVETS, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and the Prince Hall Masons. His civic involvement also included the historically black working-class Maple Park subdivision on Chicago’s Far Southwest Side where he served as: President of the block club for the 11700th block of South Throop Street and President, Parliamentarian, and Financial Secretary for the Maple Park Community Association (originally the Maple Park Homeowners Association). During his tenure with the homeowners association, Mr. Armstrong was in the forefront of compelling Maple Park subdivision’s developers to honor their promise of improving Cooper Park and including a gymnasium in the Whistler Elementary School tripling the school’s assembly hall and cafeteria; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Oscar James Armstrong’s physical presence may no longer be with us, he shall be remembered as a man who was gentle in spirit, admired and respected by his many friends and neighbors, and dearly loved by his family.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County ,the Board does hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family of Oscar James Armstrong and join them in sorrow at this time of loss; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of the same be tendered to the family of Mr. Oscar James Armstrong so that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished
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