American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois
Board of Directors
November 6, 2014
Chicago, Illinois

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley is a life-long supporter and defender of basic civil liberties; and,

WHEREAS, during his 16 years as a member of the Chicago City Council, Cliff Kelley advanced policies consistent with his personal commitment to civil liberties and civil rights; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1998 for his courage and leadership as the major sponsor of Chicago's first ordinance (in 1973) to ban discrimination based upon sexual orientation; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley brought his experience and his passion for civil liberties to the Board of Directors for the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois beginning in 1993; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley was elevated to the Executive Committee of the ACLU of Illinois in 1996; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley served the Board in many capacities, as the Chair of the Public Education Committee, as a member of the Executive Director Search Committee in 2000 and as a forceful spokesperson for the organization; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley has regularly used his skills as a communicator to assist the ACLU of Illinois with important public education outreach programs, including the 1997 Dead Men Talking event, the ACLU's television program on Chicago's cable access station; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley has used his platform as a radio talk show host at WVON-AM not only to advance fundamental issues of freedom and liberty, but also to host staff and members of the ACLU to discuss issues of import to the organization; and,

WHEREAS, Cliff Kelley's role as an afternoon drive talk radio host has limited his ability to attend and participate in the work of the Board, leading to his decision to step down from the ACLU Board and the Executive Committee, ending more than two decades of continuous service on the Board of Directors;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, THAT the ACLU of Illinois Board of Directors meeting on the 6th of November, 2014 does hereby commend Cliff Kelley for his years of service to the organization and, in recognition for that service, names Cliff Kelley as a Life Member of the ACLU and Board Member Emeritus.