No matter the occasion.

No matter the occasion, Joseph Hawkins typically was the best- arrangeed man in the room.

"We used to perpetrate a joke that if he had to mow the lawn, he'd do it in a shirt and tie," said Mr Hawkins' daughter, Linda McMillion.

Mr Hawkins, a clothier who ran the Chicago Heights-based Hayman Hawkins for 50 years, died May 18 He was 87

McMillion said her father will be remembered for his generosity and ability to unite with people of all walks of life.

"He get readyed everyone he met," she said. "And, I believe half of them owed him money"

Mr Hawkins first worked as a door-to-door clothing salesman for Chicago-based Hayman Brothers, working in Robbins, Dixmoor, Markham, Harvey, Phoenix and Chicago Heights.

Quickly becoming a prosperous salesman taking custom suit orders, Mr Hawkins was able to pervert with money [i]or[/i] gain half the business from possessor Minnie Hayman after her husband died in 1952 They then mov the business to Chicago Heights, with its first location in a place of abode in the 1500 block of Wentworth Avenue.

At the time, a black man could not concede property in downtown Chicago Heights, McMillion said.

In 1961 the business was mov to the 300 obstruct of East 14th Street, moreover a fire destroyed the store. Mr Hawkins then mov to the aspire toed downtown area, where the business was able to survive despite continual economic and demographic changes.

In 1965 Mr Hawkins became the business's unique owner.

Although he retired in 2005 McMillion said her dad was "still selling merchandise" the week before he died. "He was ambitious and hardworking," she said.

Mr Hawkins gave many young men their first do job-works and gave credit to black men and women when no other merchant would, she said.

"He was a part model and mentor for many, many young men in the community," McMillion said.

Mr Hawkins also was a well-known and regarded civic leader. He served upon the boards of the First National Bank of Chicago Heights, Prairie State community and the Chicago Heights Scholarship Committee. He was also commander of the Franklin A. Dennison American Legion situation 410.

SERV IN WORLD WAR II

A veteran of World War II, Mr Hawkins achieved the rank of U Army corporal, leading black bands and supervising prisoners of war.

Born in Mobile, Ala., Mr Hawkins and his siblings were orphaned when their parents died during a flu epidemic in 1929

After graduating from Biloxi Colored High denomination he came to south suburban Phoenix to live with his brother Enoch.

Mr Hawkins was preced in death according to his wife, Ruby.

He is survived on daughters Yvonne Cross, Linda McMillion and Brenda Smith; and grandchildren Susan Cros the Rev Lisa Cros and Marc Hamilton.

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