Roland Burris

I find politics so entertaining -- perhaps it is in the blood. My grandfather was a "watcher" in Chicago in the late 1800's and the family always joked how he watched to be certain the right votes were cast. Makes you wonder who is watching now.

I wonder if Burris gets two votes (Vote Early and Vote Often) given his additional "residence" at the Oak Woods Cemetery?

If you don't have an opportunity to visit the cemetery, here are some crypt worthy and other accomplishments:


Civic Activities:
Member, Board of the Better Business Bureau (2008)
Member, Board of the Auditorium Theater of Chicago (2001-2006)
Member, Board of The National Center for Responsible Gaming (1996-2005)
Trustee, Financial Accounting Foundation (1991-1994)
Chairman, National Association of Attorneys General, Civil Rights Commission (1993-1995)
Trustee, Government Finance Officers Association of U.S. and Canada (1987-1991)
Member, Howard University Law School Alumni Association
Member, Southern Illinois University Foundation
Member, Mental Health Association of Greater Chicago
Member, U.S. Jaycees
Vice-Chairman, Committee on Illinois Government
Trustee, Goodwill Industries
Member, Chicago Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
Member, Board of Directors, Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University (1996)
Chairman, Illinois State Justice Commission (1994-1996)
Chairman and Founder, Illinois Commission of the African-American Males (1992-1994)
Vice-Chairman, Democratic National Committee (1985-1989)
Life member, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Life member, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
Life member, Southern Illinois Alumni Association
Member of Western Consistory # 28 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Free Masons, Prince Hall Northern Jurisdiction (32nd Degree)
Chairman, Civil Rights Committee, National Association of Attorneys General (1993-1994)
President, National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (1981-1982)
Member, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Beta Boule
White House summer intern for Office of Emergency Planning (1962)

Recognition and Awards:
100 Most Influential Black Americans, Ebony Magazine (1979-1995)
Ten Most Distinguished Alumni in the History of the University - Wall of Fame, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (1997)
Distinguished Accomplishments in the Field of Law, National Bar Association (1993)
One of the Top Three Government Financial Officers in the Nation, City and State Magazine (1989)
Hall of Fame, Centralia, Illinois
Honorary Doctors of Laws Degree, National Louis University, Evanston, Illinois
Honorary Doctors of Laws Degree, Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Mississippi





"Vote Early and Vote Often"
I heard that cynical phrase often in my younger days. "Vote early -- and often" and "Vote early -- and vote often" are variously attributed to three different Chicagoans: Al Capone, the famous gangster; Richard J. Daley, mayor from 1955 to 1976; and William Hale Thompson, mayor from 1915-1923 and 1931-1935. All three were notorious for their corruption and their manipulation of the democratic process. It is most likely that Thompson invented the phrase, and Capone and Daley later repeated it.

Links:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/burrisgrave.jpg Image
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2156384/posts Close up of crypt
http://www.chipublib.org/ Chicago Public Library
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-burris-profile-31-dec31,0,348552.story Chicago Tribune Burris Article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland_Burris Wikipedia Article

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