Office of the City Clerk - Record #: R2021-1000

• Record #: R2021-1000
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• Intro date: 9/14/2021
• Final action: 9/14/2021
• Title: Tribute to late Robert Shaw by the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus
• Sponsors: Dowell, Pat, King, Sophia D., Hairston, Leslie A., Sawyer, Roderick T., Mitchell, Gregory I., Harris, Michelle A., Beale, Anthony, Coleman, Stephanie D. , Moore, David H., Curtis, Derrick G., Taylor, Jeanette B. , Brookins, Jr., Howard, Scott, Jr. Michael, Burnett, Jr., Walter, Ervin, Jason C., Taliaferro, Chris, Austin, Carrie M., Mitts, Emma, Martin, Matthew J. , Hadden, Maria E.

Date	Journal Page Number	Action By	Action	Result
9/14/2021	36676	City Council	Adopted
9/14/2021		City Council	Introduced (Agreed Calendar)

RESOLUTION REMEMBERING ROBERT "BOB" SHAW

WHEREAS, July 22,2021, marked the conclusion ofa colorful and unique chapter in the annals of Chicago politics with the passing of former Commissioner ofthe Cook County Board of Review and two time 9th Ward Alderman Robert Shaw; and ¹

WHEREAS, Robert Shaw, together with his late twin brother William Shaw, a former state senator and mayor of Dolton, made a formidable and, at times, controversial political duo in Chicago, Cook County and Illinois politics. The brothers started life on July 31, 1937, in Hope, Arkansas, the same birthplace as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, but eventually migrated to Chicago's West Side in the mid-1950s where he and his brother became civil rights activists who helped elect the first African American Alderman in the 24^th Ward. The brothers led demonstrations throughout the westside promoting African American political empowerment and were instrumental in supporting Dr. Martin Luther King's fair housing initiative on the westside. Eventually, the duo moved to the South Side, where they made their mark in the 1970s, becoming well-known in political circles by wearing similar hairpieces and having public clashes with Democratic Party officeholders; and

WHEREAS, serving as Alderman in the 9^th Ward in two nonconsecutive terms, Robert Shaw was first elected in 1979 and promoted legislation requiring Black history to be taught in public schools, pushed to create 40,000 patronage jobs and sought to remove the image of a tall ship from the city's seal, arguing that the vessel represented slavery. He was elected again in 1987 and was succeeded by the current Alderman of the 9^th Ward, Hon. Anthony Beale. In 1998, Shaw became a Cook County Board of Review commissioner where he served until retiring in 2008; and

WHEREAS, most notably, the Shaw brothers formed a powerful political organization that led to more than 6o African American lawyers to become Circuit Court and Appellate Judges in Cook County by lobbying the Illinois State Legislature to bring about diversity on the bench by creating subcircuits throughout African American city wards; and

WHEREAS Robert Shaw was always a natty dresser and wore a suit seven days a week, even in retirement. He loved retail politics, enjoyed pressing the flesh and greeting his constituents. He could always be found eating at his favorite restaurants, like MacArthur's on the West Side or in the evenings at the Eldorado lounge in Dolton. Shaw had an extraordinary gift for remembering names and faces, knew every minister in town and was skilled at covering a lot of ground when seeking votes, sometimes visiting six or seven churches on Sundays; and

WHEREAS Robert Shaw leaves behind to mourn his loss and cherish his memory, a wife, Wilner Shaw; two daughters, Lolita Cleveland and Kristen Shaw; one son, Chad Hill; and his nephew, Victor Shaw; and

WHEREAS, the Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus members, Chairman and 28^th Ward Aid. Jason Ervin, Vice Chair and 16^th Ward Aid. Stephanie D. Coleman along with 3^rd Ward Aid. Pat Dowell, 4^th Ward Aid. Sophia King, 5^th Ward Aid. Leslie Hairston, 6^th Ward Aid. Roderick T. Sawyer, 7^th Ward Aid. Gregory Mitchell, 8^th Ward Michelle A. Harris, 9^th Ward Aid. Anthony Beale, 17^th Ward Aid. David Moore, 18^th Ward Aid. Derrick Curtis, 20^th Ward Aid. Jeanette Taylor, 21^st Ward Aid. Howard Brookins, Jr., 24^th Ward Aid. Michael Scott, Jr., 27^th Ward Aid. Walter Burnett, Jr., 29^th Ward Aid. Chris Taliaferro, 34^th Ward Aid. Carrie Austin, 37^th Ward Aid. Emma Mitts, 47^th Ward Aid. Matt Martin, and 49^th Ward Aid. Maria Hadden, have informed this august body of the end ofa flamboyant era in Chicago politics with the passing of Robert Shaw; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED that we, the mayor and members ofthe City of Chicago City Council, gathered this 14^th Day of September 2021 AD, do hereby express our sincerest sympathy to the immediate family of Robert Shaw and extend our deepest condolences to his many relations and friends.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Robert Shaw.

Submitted by CHICAGO ALDERMANIC BLACK CAUCUS