OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
February 28, 2018
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Alderman Osterman, an honorary resolution concerning John Moody Kahoun.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn that John Moody Kahoun, the founder and owner of Moody's Pub, passed away on January 11, 2018 at the age of 84; and
WHEREAS, A lifelong resident of Chicago, John was born in the Roseland neighborhood on June 15, 1933, and was the oldest of four boys. John would spend his summers visiting his father's lake cabin in Minocqua, Wisconsin or visiting his mother's family in the Mississippi River town of McGregor, Iowa, where he enjoyed a "Huckleberry Finn" lifestyle and developed a lifelong passion for fishing; and
WHEREAS, John was also an accomplished athlete, earning varsity letters in football and wrestling while attending Morgan Park Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1951. He attended Ripon College on a football scholarship, and later attended Kent Law School; and
WHEREAS, John served as a Second Lieutenant in the Army and was stationed in Germany, where he developed a strong affection for German-style beer halls and beer gardens; and
WHEREAS, Upon his return to Chicago, John worked as an insurance adjuster and lived in a bare-bones apartment so that he could save money to open his own tavern; and
WHEREAS, In 1959, John achieved his goal when he opened Moody's Pub at 1529 North Wells in the then-obscure Old Town neighborhood, which had only one other tavern. Moody's, which John named after his mother's family name, immediately built a reputation by serving ice cold beer, sangria, onion rings, fresh cut fries, and sloppy joes. Arguably a victim of his own success, John was forced to close Moody's Pub when the inc...
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