RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson served his country with distinction as a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen during World War II; and
WHEREAS, A native of Chicago Heights. O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson graduated
from Bloom Township High School and joined the United States Army Air Force's
Aviation Cadet Training Program at Tuskegee Alabama; and i
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson received commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and earned his wings as B-52 Pilot; and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson was flying B-52 bomber training missions when World War II ended; and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson O. Lawton Wilkerson returned to the Chicago Heights area, where he was born and raised, and became the first black bus driver for the South Suburban Bus Company; and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson attended die New York Institute of Photography and then worked as an event photographer and was a weekend disc jockey for WBEE in Harvey on "sunup to sundown duty" becoming known as "Weekend Wilkie"; and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson then went to work for WMAQ radio in Chicago, retiring as program manager in 1988; and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson will be honored at a special celebration on the eve of Veteran's Day at Wintrust's Grand Banking Hall, 231 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois; and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson is truly an example of what journalist Tom Brokaw called "Our Greatest Generation;" and
WHEREAS, O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson is exceedingly worthy of our highest admiration and esteem; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this ninth day of November, 2016 do hereby express our sincere appreciation to O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson for his military service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to O. Lawton "Wilk" Wilkerson.
Aldehnan - 14th Ward