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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING FORMER COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER JERRY “ICE MAN” BUTLER
WHEREAS, Commissioner Jerry Butler, was born in Sunflower, Mississippi in 1939. When Commissioner Butler was three years old, his family moved to Chicago, Illinois. Commissioner Butler grew up poor during the 1950s while living in Chicago's Cabrini-Green housing complex. Music and the church provided Commissioner Butler solace from his surroundings and difficulties of a predominantly segregated society; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Jerry Butler met and fell in love with Annette Smith. Jerry was conscious about his spending as a struggling artist, walking more than twenty miles to Annette’s home to see her. The long walks and moonlit nights blossomed into an unbreakable unity. On June 21, 1959, the two united in holy matrimony, enjoying 60 years of blissful marriage and raise a family including sons, Randall and Anthony Butler; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Jerry Butler sang in a gospel quartet called the Northern Jubilee Gospel Singers as a teenager, along with childhood friend Curtis Mayfield. Commissioner Butler would collaborate with Curtis Mayfield to form the six-member group, the Roosters, which later became The Impressions. Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers, the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, the Pilgrim Travelers, and other artists inspired Commissioner Butler, Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions: and
WHEREAS, The Civil Rights movement inspired Commissioner Butler to enter into politics, during the 1980s, as a campaign supporter of Chicago's first African American Mayor, Harold Washington. Butler himself ran for and won public office in 1985 as the Cook County Commissioner of the 3rd District. Commissioner Butler served eight four-year terms with distinction; and
WHEREAS, Jerry Butler, served as Chair of the Health and Hospital Committee, overseeing Cook County Hospital, and was instrumental in the effort to save Provident Hospital on Chicago’s south side; and
WHEREAS, Commissioner Jerry Butler continued performing while serving as a Cook County Board Commissioner. Commissioner Butler continued to perform many of his hit songs to the delight of everyone fortunate to hear him perform such hits as “For Your Precious Love”, “Moody Woman”, “Hey Western Union Man”, and, “Never Give You Up” ; and
WHEREAS, in 1991, Butler was inducted, along with the other original members of the Impressions (Curtis Mayfield, Sam Gooden, Fred Cash, and Arthur and Richard Brooks), into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He has also served as Chairman of the board of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, I, BILL LOWRY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER of the 3rd DISTRICT, do hereby stand, and salute the talented phenomenal life of Jerry Butler; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a suitable copy of this Resolution will be presented to the family of Jerry Butler;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: a copy of this Resolution will be filed within the Office of Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry 3rd District.
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