HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-2023 Special Proclamation Kerr Proclamation SPECIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 09-2023
A SPECIAL PROCLAMATION AWARDED BY SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL
MEMBER HENRY DAVIS, JR. COMMEMORATING AND HONORING THE LIFE
AND LEGACY OF LLOYD KERR, SR.
Whereas, Lloyd Kerr, Sr. and his twin brother Floyd Kerr were born ten minutes apart in
Oxford, Mississippi on November 20, 1045, the sons of Lonzo and Leolia Kerr; and
Whereas, five years later, the Kerr family moved to South Bend, Indiana where the twins
grew up; and
Whereas, young Lloyd delivered the South Bend Tribune newspaper for several years, was
a Boy Scout who loved camping and spending summers swimming at the South Bend YMCA;
and
Whereas Lloyd soon developed into an elite athlete both in basketball and track and field
at South Bend Washington High School where Lloyd won sectional and regional basketball
championships, finishing his high school career with a third-place finish in the 110-meter-high
hurdles in the state finals; and
Whereas there was a more serious side to the Washington High student as shown by his
dedicated involvement as a member of Washington’s ROTC program; and
Whereas, after graduating from Washington High in 1965, both Lloyd and Floyd were
awarded basketball scholarships to Colorado State University where Lloyd, in his senior year
averaged 15.8 points, 13.3 field goal attempts and 5.7 rebounds per game while he and Floyd led
the Rams to the elite eight in the 1969 NCAA basketball tournament; and
Whereas, during his college career Lloyd played against notable basketball legends like
Nate Archibald, Mike Warren and Lew Alcindor, n/k/a Abdul Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, against
whom Lloyd had one of his highest scoring games; and
Whereas Lloyd and Floyd will forever be remembered as “Legends of the Hardwood” at
Colorado State for the achievements of the 1968-1969 team; and
Whereas Lloyd was drafted in the third round of the NBA draft, 39th overall, and played
professionally in Belgium and with the Fabulous Harlem Magicians; and
Whereas, after retiring from basketball, Lloyd moved to Indiana, then Oregon, before
finally settling in Bolingbrook, Illinois where Lloyd officially became a member of the Kappa
Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.’s Maywood/Wheaton, IL, alumni chapter in the early 1980s, eventually
securing a lifetime membership; and
Whereas, after basketball, Lloyd spent his career in the healthcare industry beginning in
pharmaceutical sales and transitioning to a medical technical specialist for Ciba Diagnostics,
Bayer, and Siemens, teaching healthcare professionals how to operate standard medical tools and
being honored several times with the President’s Circle Award for his hard work and dedication;
and
Whereas Lloyd’s true passion was serving his community and supporting youth through
sports; and
Whereas Lloyd fed his passion by serving as township Trustee for the Village of
Bolingbrook for several years, while also coaching little league baseball and community
basketball; and
Whereas Lloyd met the love of his life, Maggie, through his brother Lonzo, at an ice cream
shop in South Bend in 1964, and the couple was married on August 10, 1968; and
Whereas Lloyd and Maggie spent nearly 55 years together in marriage and overall, 59
years together, their union resulting in three children, Lloyd Jr., Schin, and Chloé; and
Whereas Lloyd’s motivation was his children, his twin brother Floyd was his soulmate,
and his wife Maggie was his heart ; yet, late in life, the joy and warmth that shone so bright in
Lloyd’s spirit came from his only grandson, Carter Kerr.; and
Whereas, Lloyd’s hobbies included reading, watching Western, photography, music, civic
engagement, supporting Black-owned businesses, and eating a good candy bar every now and
then; and
Whereas, Lloyd passed from this life on May 29, 2023; and
Whereas, Lloyd is preceded in death by his father, Lonzo Kerr, Sr. his mother, Leolia
Kerr, his brother, Herman “Billy” J. Kerr, and his twin brother, Floyd Kerr and is survived by
his loving wife Maggie, sons Lloyd Jr. and Schin, daughter Chloé, grandson Carter, brother
Lonzo Kerr, Jr., sister Lois “Lovie” Vernice Osborne and brother Raymond Webster Kerr,
along with a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, sister s-in-law, and brother s-in-law, and
many more that he loved dearly .
Now, Therefore, be it publicly and proudly Proclaimed as follows:
Section I. The South Bend Common Council proudly commemorates and celebrates the life well
lived and the legacy of Lloyd Kerr, Sr.
Section II. The South Bend Common Council offers Maggie, Lloyd’s children and other
family members, and his friends its most sincere condolences on his passing.
Section III. May God and Lloyd forever smile down on you.
Signed and Approved this 16th Day of June, 2023 in the City of South Bend, County
of St. Joseph, in the State of Indiana.
_____________________________________
Henry Davis, Jr., South Bend Common Council
Second District