June 08, 2010

Flags lowered to honor Rep. Washington

Under a proclamation signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the United States flag and the Illinois flag are to be at half-staff at all State of Illinois facilities in honor of an Illinois legislator who died last week of a heart attack.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff immediately until sunset, Wednesday, June 9, in honor of state Rep. Eddie P. Washington, D-Waukegan.

Washington, 56, died Saturday, June 5. Elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 2002, Washington was the first African-American elected to the state legislature from Lake County. He represented a district that includes Waukegan, North Chicago and Park City. A married father of seven, Washington was seeking re-election this fall.

Washington, who is originally from East St. Louis, is a former corrections deputy officer for the Lake County Sheriff’s Department.