PRINTER'S NO. 1399
No. 206 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY WASHINGTON, KITCHEN, FUMO, O'PAKE, KASUNIC,
THOMPSON, CORMAN, BOSCOLA, COSTA, STOUT, FONTANA, EARLL,
CONTI, STACK, WONDERLING, RAFFERTY, BROWNE, WAUGH, ERICKSON,
PILEGGI, WENGER, GREENLEAF, FERLO AND TARTAGLIONE,
DECEMBER 5, 2005
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, DECEMBER 5, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Extending condolences and commemorating the exemplary
2 achievements of C. DeLores Tucker of the West Mount Airy
3 section of the City of Philadelphia, intrepid fighter for
4 equal justice, activist, consummate professional, dedicated
5 public servant, exceptional leader, mentor and friend, who
6 died on October 12, 2005, at 78 years of age.
7 WHEREAS, Born Cynthia DeLores Nottage on October 4, 1927, Ms.
8 Tucker first engaged in nonviolent social change in her teens,
9 when the Bellevue Stratford Hotel refused to admit black
10 athletes; and
11 WHEREAS, Ms. Tucker championed the nonviolent civil rights
12 movement, joining the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., in
13 marches and demonstrations across the nation, and in later years
14 challenged the dissemination of misogynist rap lyrics; and
15 WHEREAS, Ms. Tucker became the highest-ranking African-
16 American woman in State government as Secretary of the
17 Commonwealth from 1971 through 1977; and
18 WHEREAS, During her tenure Ms. Tucker streamlined voter
1 registration, promoted minority appointments and instituted the
2 first Commission on the Status of Women; and
3 WHEREAS, Ms. Tucker was the first woman to serve as vice
4 president of the Pennsylvania State Conference of the National
5 Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and
6 WHEREAS, Ms. Tucker chaired the Black Caucus of the
7 Democratic National Committee for more than a decade and
8 succeeded Shirley Chisholm as chair of the National Political
9 Congress of Black Women, Inc.; and
10 WHEREAS, She inspired women young and old, of all races and
11 ethnic backgrounds to pursue excellence; and
12 WHEREAS, Ms. Tucker promoted academic excellence, training
13 and leadership of African-American youths as founder and
14 president of The Bethune-DuBois Institute; and
15 WHEREAS, Through the institute, Ms. Tucker published "Vital
16 Issues: The Journal of African American Speeches" to preserve
17 African-American oratorical heritage; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the Senate extend condolences and commemorate
19 the achievements of C. DeLores Tucker of the West Mount Airy
20 section of the City of Philadelphia, forceful and indelible
21 activist, public servant and mentor, who died on October 12,
22 2005, at 78 years of age; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
24 her husband William L. Tucker at 6700 Lincoln Drive,
25 Philadelphia, PA 19119.
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