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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE OF REVEREND DR. LEON FINNEY, JR.
WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Leon Finney, Jr. was born on July 7, 1938 in Louise Mississippi to Leon and Bertha Finney; and
WHEREAS His parents relocated the family to Chicago when he was a child. During his childhood, Leon would spend time between Chicago and Nashville, Tennessee with his grandparents. At the age of twelve he returned to Chicago to live permanently; and
WHEREAS Dr. Finney graduated from Hyde Park Academy High School in 1957 and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign; and as well as earning multiple degrees from Goddard College, and McCormick Theological Seminary; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1960’s Dr. Finney would join the United States Marine Corps. where he served as a military police officer. After his tour of duty, he returned home in 1964 and became involved with The Woodlawn Organization as an organizer; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Finney would later be named as the Executive Director of the organization and President of the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation, where he advocated against segregated housing, high unemployment and community health concerns; and
WHEREAS Dr. Finney would later become the pastor of three churches, including Christ Apostolic Church, which he took over and restored the Metropolitan Church in Bronzeville and later renamed Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church; and
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WHEREAS, Dr. Leon Finney, Jr., passed away on September 4, 2020; and
WHEREAS is survived by his daughter Kristian; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, ,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. Leon Finney, Jr., and honor the life and memory of this outstanding Cook County residentend