ORDINANCE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
Section 1. Pursuant to Section 2-8-040 of the Municipal Code of Chicago, which allows erection of honorary street name designations, the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation shall take the necessary action for standardization of South Damen Avenue, from West 86th Street and West 87th Street as "Honorary Bishop George W. C. Walker, Sr. Blvd."
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and publication.
Derrick G. Curtis Alderman, Ward 18
Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr. (Retired)
George W. C. Walker, Sr. was born in Montgomery, AL on October 11, 1940. He is a graduate of Clinton Jr. College, A.A. degree; Livingstone College and Benedict College, B.A. degree, Hood Theological Seminary, M.Div. He was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Livingstone College, Hood Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary. He is the recipient of numerous awards and citations.
His pastorates include the following A.M.E. Zion Churches: Rock Hill and Piney Grove Pageland, SC; St. James and Mt. Airy, Chesterfield, SC; Foundation and Tabernacle, Rock Hill, SC; Jones Memorial, Columbia, SC; and Greater Walters, Chicago, IL. Among his notable accomplishments are the purchasing (and early payoff) of the property at 8400-22 Damen Avenue for the Greater Walters A.M.E. Zion Church in Chicago. He served as host pastor for the 40th Quadrennial Session of the A.M.E. Zion Church General Conference in 1976. (He introduced a new concept in hosting connectional meetings, all sessions and delegates met and slept under one roof).
Bishop Walker experienced the full gamut of life in the Chicago community, through his participation in civic, religious, political and educational activities. He served over ten years as President of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Ministerium of the Chicago District and Treasurer of the Michigan Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Bishop Walker has been a recognized community leader. He previously served as Chaplain in the Chicago Police Department. He worked arduously as a leader in the Eighteenth Ward and with the Harold Washington for Mayor Committee. He is a member of the NAACP.
He was elected the 81s1. bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church and was consecrated on August 5, 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has served the following Episcopal Districts; Eleventh 1988-1992 Conferences; Arkansas, North Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon/Washington, California, Southwest Rocky Mountain. Alaska; Fourth Episcopal District 1992-1996 that became North Eastern Episcopal District in 1996 and served until 2004 New England, Western New York, New York, Bahamas Islands; and in 2004-2012 The Piedmont Episcopal District; Blue Ridge, West Central North Carolina, Western North Carolina, and all divisions of Jamaica. He was elevated Senior Bishop in 2004 and served until his retirement in 2012.
Bishop Walker spent significant time and energy in the further development of the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, New York, and the Dorothy Walls Conference and Retreat Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina. He led both the North Eastern and Piedmont Episcopal Districts in purchasing Episcopal Residences. Served as Chairman of the Publishing House Board, Restructuring Commission, and Livingstone College Board of Trustees. Chaired the Bicentennial Commission and the Bicentennial Hymnal Committee. He is commissioned to write the History of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to be completed in 2020. He represented the A.M.E. Zion Church with Ecumenical organizations such as the National
Council of Churches, Congress of National Black Churches, World Methodist Council, and World Council of Churches.
In August 2012, Bishop Walker retired after 28 successful years in the pastoral ministry and 24 productive years in the Episcopal ministry of the A.M.E. Zion Church, the church of his birth and choice. He and his lovely bride, Mrs. Geraldine J. Walker, who shared these blissful years with him, and without whom this journey would not have been possible, are the proud parents of four wonderful children; eleven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
DEDICATION OF 8600 CORNER OF SOUTH DAMEN AVENUE AND 2000 WEST 87th STREET AS HONORARY BISHOP GEORGE W. C. WALKER SR. BLVD.
WHEREAS, in August 2012, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. retired after twenty-eight successful years in the pastoral ministry and twenty-four productive years in the Episcopal ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church, the church of his birth and choice; and
WHEREAS, George W. C. Walker Sr. was born in Montgomery, Alabama on October 11, 1940; and
WHEREAS, George W. C. Walker Sr. received an Associate of Arts degree from Clinton Jr. College; a Bachelor of Arts degree from Livingstone College and Benedict College; a Master of Divinity degree from Hood Theological Seminary; and, was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Livingstone College, Hood Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary and has been the recipient of numerous awards and citations throughout the course of his life of service; and
WHEREAS, George W. C. Walker Sr. served as host pastor for the 40th Quadrennial Session of the AME Zion Church General Conference in 1976. At the Conference he introduced a new concept in hosting connectional meetings - all sessions and delegates met and slept under one roof; and
WHEREAS, George W. C. Walker Sr. was elected the 81st Bishop of the AME Church and was consecrated on August 5, 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, in his capacity as Bishop, George W. C. Walker Sr. has served the following Episcopal Districts: Eleventh 1988-1992 Conferences; Arkansas, North Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon, Washington, California, Southwest Rocky Mountain, Alaska; Fourth Episcopal District 1992-1996 that became North Eastern Episcopal District in 1966 and served until 2004 New England, Western New York, New York, Bahamas Islands; and in 2004-2012 The Piedmont Episcopal District; Blue Ridge, West Central North Carolina, Western North Carolina, and all divisions of Jamaica. He was elevated to Senior Bishop in 2004 and served until retirement in 2012; and '
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr.'s pastorates have included the following AME Zion Churches: Rock Hill and Piney Grove, Pageland, South Carolina; St. James and Mt. Airy, Chesterfield, South Carolina; Foundation and Tabernacle, Rock Hill, South Carolina; Jones Memorial, Columbia, South Carolina; and Greater Walter's, in Chicago, Illinois;
WHEREAS, Among Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr.'s notable accomplishments is the purchase of the property at 8400-22 South Damen Avenue for the Greater Walters AME Zion Church in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. experiences the full gamut of life in the Chicago community through his participation in civic, religious, political and educational activities. He served over ten years as President of the AME Zion Ministerium of Chicago District, and as Treasurer of the Michigan Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church; and
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. has been consistently recognized as a dedicated and visionary community leader committed to creating a better quality of life for all Chicagoans. He served as Chaplain in the Chicago Police Department and worked arduously as a leader in the 18th Ward, and with the Harold Washington for Mayor Committee. He is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; and
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. has spent significant time and energy furthering the development of the Harriet Tubman Home in Auburn, New York and the Dorothy Walls Conference Retreat Center in Black Mountain, North Carolina. He led both the North Eastern and Piedmont Episcopal Districts in purchasing Episcopal Residences: served as Chairman of the Publishing House Board, Restructuring Commission; served on the Livingstone College Board of Trustees; and chaired the Bicentennial Commission and the Bicentennial Hymnal Committee; and
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. has represented the AME Zion Church with ecumenical organizations such as the National Council of Churches, Congress of National Black Churches, World Methodist Council, and World Council of Churches; and
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. has been commissioned to write the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to be completed in 2020; and
WHEREAS, it is the hope of the 18th Ward, that by honoring Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr.'s amazing life journey and prolific list of accomplishments, it can serve as a visible reminder and beacon of light to the community, past, present, and future, of the greatness that can be achieved when someone combines purpose, passion, and perseverance to care for the greater good; and
WHEREAS, Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. credits his lovely bride, Mrs. Geraldine J. Walker, who has shared these blissful years with htm, making his journey as a church leader possible. They are proud parents of four wonderful children; eleven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, the Honorable Derrick Curtis, will establish the 8600 corner of South Damen Avenue and 2000 West 87th Street as Honorary Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. Blvd.; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we the Mayor and the members of the City of Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-ninth day of May, 2019 do hereby express our sincere gratitude for the many contributions of Bishop George W. C. Walker Sr. throughout his career; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy ofthis resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Bishop W. C. Walker Sr. as a sign of our utmost respect and appreciation.
Derrick Curtis Alderman, 18th Ward
2000 W 87th St, Chicago, IL 60620 to 8600 S Damen Ave, Chicago. IL 60620 - Google Maps
Go a!e M=T ~ 2000 W 87th St* chica9°-IL 6062010 8600 s Damen J- ' •-P-1 Ave, Chicago, IL 60620
Date:
Office of Budget and Management 121 N. LaSalle, Room 604 Chicago, IL 60602
To Whom It May Concern:
I, yWrScrC Q,, (lush's , Alderman of the )£Nvard, hereby authorize the
Office of Budget Management to withdraw the funds associated with the cost of
installation for this honorary street designation for "£> .'shop (qeoryj, W (aU fe-C^d. E>lvd>
from my:
Ward's annual menu program budget
□ Ward's aldermanic expanse allowance
upon passage ofthis designation ordinance, pursuant to Section 2-8-040 of the Chicago Municipal Code.
Sincerely, Alderman
6/1/2017