2019 -- H 5279

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LC001191

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

EXTENDING SINCERE CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF DR. KENNETH R.

WALKER, SR.

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Shekarchi, Williams, McNamara, and Abney

     Date Introduced: February 05, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Dr.

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Kenneth R. Sr., Walker, beloved husband to Gail Walker for 63 years, the devoted father of three

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children, Michele Walker-Angell and her husband, David, Leanne Walker-Beard and her

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husband, Jeffrey, and Kenneth R. Walker, Jr., and the proud grandfather of six grandchildren; and

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     WHEREAS, The retired Chairman and longest serving member of the state Parole Board,

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Dr. Walker had served a total of 34 years on the Board and passionately believed in giving people

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a second chance in life; and

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     WHEREAS, Kenneth Walker was born and raised in the City of East Providence, the son

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of the late Frank Walker and Lillian Walker, and the brother of Arline Walker, Frank R. Walker,

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III, and his wife, Jane, and the late Leonard E. Walker and Ronald Walker. He graduated from

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Providence College and continued his education, earning his M.Ed. from Rhode Island College,

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and a Ph.D. from Boston University. He was a teacher, coach, guidance counselor, and

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administrator in the East Providence public school system and subsequently became a professor

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of Education at Rhode Island College and Johnson & Wales University; and

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     WHEREAS, During his tenure at Rhode Island College, Dr. Walker directed the Teacher

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Corps, a program geared towards raising the quality of education for low-income students and

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served as Director of urban education; and

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     WHEREAS, Earning the love and respect of his peers, Dr. Walker had received the 1980

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NAACP Freedom Fund Award in Education and the National Alumni Association's Exemplary

 

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Citizenship Award in 1993. He was also a former president of Big Brothers of Rhode Island, and

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had served on the president's council for many years; and

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     WHEREAS, In 2008, the Dr. Kenneth R. Walker Family Scholarship Fund was

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established in his name to provide financial support for African-American students majoring in

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education at Providence College; and

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     WHEREAS, Dr. Walker had also been a referee in the Interscholastic League, and was

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one of the first African-Americans to referee high-school basketball games in Rhode Island, as

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well as at Atlantic 10 and Big East college games. At heart, he was a true Friar who often traveled

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with the team and is remembered by many at PC "for his work as a mentor to countless faculty,

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staff, and students over the years"; and

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     WHEREAS, Dr. Kenneth Walker devoted his life to helping others. He was a genuine

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and dignified man and a true leader who made a significant difference in the lives of so many

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people at Providence College and in the State of Rhode Island and he will he truly missed; now,

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby extends its deepest sympathies on the passing of Dr. Kenneth

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Walker; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mrs. Gail Walker and Family.

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