IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 191 

Honoring Jacoby Dickens, the successful, community-oriented AfricanAmerican financier and philanthropist in Chicago, Illinois. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 26, 2013 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Jacoby Dickens, the successful, community-oriented African-American financier and philanthropist in 

Chicago, Illinois. 

Whereas Jacoby Dickens has become a prominent representation of the American Dream through his remarkable 

growth from humble beginnings in Florida to renowned 

financier of Seaway Bank & Trust Co.; 

Whereas Dickens has distinguished himself as much for his 

philanthropic efforts as for his entrepreneurial successes, 

constantly investing into the African-American community; 

Whereas Jacoby D. Dickens was born in Panama City, Florida, on June 19, 1931, one of six children, in a low-income household and went on to complete his high school 


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•HRES 191 IH 

education at Wendell Phillips High School in the South 

Side of Chicago; 

Whereas Mr. Dickens began saving money while working as 

a building engineer and used his savings to invest in real 

estate; 

Whereas Mr. Dickens used the returns of his successful investments in real estate to invest in multiple bowling 

alleys across Chicago, and gained exposure as a financial 

up-and-comer; 

Whereas Mr. Dickens became chairman of Seaway Bank & 

Co. in 1983, just 4 years after joining their board; 

Whereas Seaway was one of very few banks willing to provide 

loans in tough neighborhoods in the South Side of Chicago, primarily due to the Mr. Dickens’ model of success; 

Whereas Mr. Dickens built a $500,000,000 organization 

while focusing on dedicating his services to African-Americans in lower income communities, at a time when many 

were unwilling to take such risks; 

Whereas countless businesses, families, and communities at 

large were impacted by Mr. Dickens’ trust in people; 

Whereas Mr. Dickens believed that people are equal and deserve the opportunity to better themselves; and 

Whereas Seaway & Co. was originally only one of few banks 

in Chicago owned by African-Americans, but is now one 

of the largest and most successful banks in the city: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors Jacoby Dickens, the successful, com3 munity-oriented African-American financier and phiVerDate Mar 15 2010 02:15 Apr 27, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR191.IH HR191

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•HRES 191 IH 

1 lanthropist in Chicago, Illinois, for his dedication to 

2 increasing equity amongst lower income African3 Americans; 

4 (2) joins Jacoby Dickens and other philan5 thropic entrepreneurs in promoting equal access to 

6 financial betterment for underprivileged commu7 nities; and 

8 (3) believes that the fruit of thoughtful risk 

9 taking is the backbone of success in the United 

10 States; and 

11 (4) encourages each individual’s pursuit of life, 

12 liberty, and happiness. 

Æ 


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