Record #: O2015-2661   
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
Intro date: 4/15/2015 Current Controlling Legislative Body: Committee on Transportation and Public Way
Final action: 5/6/2015
Title: Honorary street designation as "Honorary Van C. Walters Way"
Sponsors: Mell, Deborah
Topic: STREETS - Honorary Designations
Attachments: 1. O2015-2661.pdf
Refer to Committee on Transportation and Public Way
 
 
ORDINANCE
 
WHEREAS, Van C. Walters - prominent teacher, coach, mentor to troubled young people and humanitarian - departed this life on March 15, 2010, at the age of 61; and
 
WHEREAS, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, Mr. Walters was the youngest of eight children; and
 
WHEREAS, Mr. Walters received his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Tuskegee Institute, and moved to Chicago in search of greater economic opportunity; and
 
WHEREAS, for 31 years, Mr. Walters taught mathematics and coached three sports at Roosevelt High School, touching the lives of countless young men and women; and
 
WHEREAS, this year marks the 5th anniversary of Mr. Walters' death, and provides an opportunity to review the impact of his life and to establish a suitable memorial to him; and
 
WHEREAS, Mr. Walters saw the good and the potential in many troubled teenagers, and tried to steer many of them into the constructive discipline of team sports; and
 
WHEREAS, in order to assist his student-athletes in achieving their full potential, Mr. Walters would use his own funds to pay for their participation in off-season sports camps; and
 
WHEREAS, Mr. Walters saw in his teaching and coaching positions the opportunity to build the lives of young people who otherwise might not succeed; through his vision, persistence and confidence in the basic goodness of others, he literally saved the lives of some of his students, and helped many of them build successful careers as teachers, businesspeople, athletes and coaches; and
 
WHEREAS, the City Council has been advised of all the foregoing by the Honorable Deborah Mell, Alderman of the 33rd Ward; now, therefore,
 
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
 
SECTION 1. Pursuant to an ordinance heretofore passed by the City Council which allows erection of honorary street name signs, the Commissioner of Transportation shall take the necessary action for standardization of the 3400 block of West Wilson Avenue as "Honorary Van C. Walters Way."
 
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage
and approval.
 
Deborah Mell Alderman, 33rd Ward