IL HR0949

The Illinois House of Representatives mourns the death of Donnie Allen Kirksey, who passed away on December 28, 2020.

Kirksey was born in Chicago on March 31, 1963, graduated from Chicago Vocational High School in 1981, and earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Roosevelt University in 1985.

He worked for major athletic companies including Nike, Reebok, and Adidas, and served as an assistant coach at DePaul University, Chicago State University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

At the time of his death, Kirksey served as the administrator of Culture and Climate and head basketball coach at Chicago Vocational High School, overseeing the safety and positive atmosphere for over 900 students.

Kirksey received the Saving Black Males/Par Excellence in Education Award in 2009 and the Chicago Region IBCA Coach of the Year Award in 2010, and mentored numerous young men in pursuing higher education and basketball programs.