RESOLUTION HONORING JOSEPH "JOE" AHERN ON HIS RETIREMENT
WHEREAS, Joseph "Joe" Ahem has retired as CEO ofthe 100 Club of Chicago after a distinguished career and a lifetime of being in the public eye; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by the Honorable Brian Hopkins, Alderman of the 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia, Joe is the proud grandson of a police officer, and is a wellknown Chicago executive, having served as President of Rosebud Restaurants and as an advisor to Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid committee; and
WHEREAS, Joe has managed TV stations around the world, but he is best known for running local stations CBS 2 and ABC 7; while at ABC 7, he helped launch The Oprah Winfrey Show out of AM Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Joe has built a wealth of experience throughout his career and is dedicated to several civic and charitable causes and organizations, including: the American Cancer Society, Chicago Central Area Committee, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Children's Memorial Hospital, Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Executive Club of Chicago, Economic Club of Chicago, Loyola University Council of Regents, Museum of Broadcast Communications, and World Business Chicago; and
WHEREAS, In November 2010, Joe stepped into his most challenging role when he was named Executive Director ofthe 100 Club of Chicago, a not-for-profit organization that supports the surviving dependents of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMS personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty; Joe rose to the challenge, and two years later was promoted to Chief Executive Officer; and
WHEREAS, Under Joe's leadership, the 100 Club expanded from serving only Cook County to also serving more than 45,000 first responders in Lake and McHenry Counties; in his retirement, Joe will continue on as a mentor with the 100 Club; and
WHEREAS, In May 2019, Joe was recognized for his outstanding service and dedication to the residents of Chicago when he was awarded the Richard J. Daley Police Medal of Honor, which is the highest honor given to a citizen by the Chicago Police Department each year; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twentieth day of May, 2020, do hereby congratulate Joseph "Joe" Ahern on a lifetime of civic, media, and public safety achievements, and extend our best wishes to him in his retirement as he commences this new chapter of his life with his wife Susan and his three daughters, Meredith, Kate, and Ally, while leisurely walking his dogs, gardening, and being entertained by the late, great Frank Sinatra; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Joseph "Joe" Ahern as a sign of our gratitude and respect. ;
BRIAN HOPKINS