RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 77; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A longtime resident of the Hyde Park community, Bill Grimshaw was a prominent Chicago political science professor and the loving husband of Jacquelyne; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw was the much-adored father of Kim and Chris, the dear brother of Alan, and the grandfather of four to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, Along with his wife, Bill Grimshaw played an influential role in advising Mayor Harold Washington who became Chicago's first African-American Mayor in 1983; and
WHEREAS, Following the death of Harold Washington, Bill Grimshaw remained an important figure who helped Chicagoans understand the Mayor's legacy and progressive agenda; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw taught political science for 30 years at the Illinois Institute of Technology and authored the book "Bitter Fruit; Black Politics and the Chicago Machine, 1931 to 1991", which is still considered a classic in its field; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw coined the term "redistributive reform," which reflected Mayor Washington's agenda to introduce a fairer distribution of jobs to minorities, especially in government; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw was the next-door neighbor of President Barack Obama and lived near other prominent members of the Hyde Park community such as attorney James Montgomery and presidential advisor Valerie Jarrett; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw was a leading intellectual who called for greater political transparency and reform; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Bill Grimshaw serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared Bill Grimshaw to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, Bill Grimshaw was an individual of great integrity and accomplishment who will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, Bill Grimshaw imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eighteenth day of May, 2016, do hereby commemorate Bill Grimshaw for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Bill Grimshaw.
