LRB-3872/2
CGR:cjs:jf
2003 - 2004 LEGISLATURE
February 19, 2004 - Introduced by Representatives Young, Taylor, Hebl, Boyle,
Schneider, Sinicki, Krug, Turner, Morris, Travis, Plouff, Lothian,
Gronemus, Pocan, Gunderson, Jeskewitz, Musser, D. Meyer, W. Wood, Hahn,
Cullen, Ott, M. Lehman, Black, Zepnick, Albers, Olsen, Berceau, Bies, Van
Akkeren, Kaufert, Miller, Toles, Vruwink, Kestell and A. Williams,
cosponsored by Senators Coggs, Moore, Hansen, Carpenter, Robson, Risser,
Decker, Kanavas, Chvala, Erpenbach, Plale, Roessler and Lassa. Referred
to Committee on Rules.
AJR67,1,1
1Relating to: the life and public service of Marcia P. Coggs.
AJR67,1,32
Whereas, Marcia P. Coggs was born on April 5, 1928, in Kansas City, Kansas,
3and died on December 9, 2003, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and
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Whereas, she married Isaac Newton Coggs in 1952, who preceded her in death
5in 1973; and
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Whereas, Mrs. Coggs was first elected to the Wisconsin assembly in 1976,
7serving in the 1977 through 1991 sessions; and
AJR67,1,108
Whereas, she followed in the footsteps of her husband, who was one of the first
9African-Americans elected to the Wisconsin legislature (serving 12 years in the
10assembly); and
AJR67,1,1211
Whereas, Mrs. Coggs was the first black woman elected to the Wisconsin
12legislature; and
AJR67,1,1413
Whereas, during her tenure in the legislature, Mrs. Coggs was a member on the
14joint committee on finance; and
AJR67,2,2
1Whereas, she took great pride in initiating a bill to limit the tenure of the City
2of Milwaukee police and fire chiefs; and
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Whereas, she also introduced bills to allow nonvoters to file complaints against
4police and to permit juveniles to make restitution instead of going to jail; and
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Whereas, she introduced legislation focused on civil rights, including
6protesting apartheid in South Africa and calling for divestiture of state funds in that
7country; and
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Whereas, she believed perseverance in addressing injustices such as apartheid
9would bring change; and
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Whereas, she declared, "It takes the black and white keys of the piano to play
11`The Star-Spangled Banner' .... You can't do it with all white or all black"; and
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Whereas, by the end of her tenure in the legislature, she was called the
13"Conscience of the State of Wisconsin"; and
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Whereas, she will be remembered as being "small in physical stature, but a
15giant in terms of her impact"; and
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Whereas, over the years, she received many honors, including being named
17Queen Mother of the African World Festival in 2001; and
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Whereas, she was the matriarch of her family and she was also the matriarch
19of a political legacy; now, therefore, be it
AJR67,2,23
20Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the members of the
21Wisconsin legislature commend the devoted public service that Marcia P. Coggs
22contributed to this state and her community, express their sorrow at her death, and
23extend their condolences to her family and friends; and, be it further
AJR67,3,2
24Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this joint
25resolution to Mrs. Coggs' daughter, Milwaukee County Supervisor Elizabeth
1Coggs-Jones, and her nephews, State Senator Spencer Coggs, State Representative
2Leon D. Young, Harold C. Young III, and Eric Young.
