OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
March 23, 2022
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1 transmit herewith, together with Alderman Ervin and the rest ofthe members ofthe Black Caucus, a resolution celebrating the 100th birthday of the late Mayor Harold Washington.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, April 15, 2022 is the 100th anniversary ofthe birth of Harold Washington, native son of Chicago and the City's first Black mayor; and
WHEREAS, Raised in the Bronzeville neighborhood, Washington was a product of Chicago Public Schools, attending Forestville Elementary and DuSable High School, before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1942; and
WHEREAS, Washington served in the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, receiving several honors including the Meritorious Service Unit Award and the American Campaign Medal, before receiving an honorable discharge in 1946; and
WHEREAS, Upon returning to Chicago, "Washington enrolled at Roosevelt College (now Roosevelt University), serving as president of the student council and leading various efforts including to ban racial restrictive convents and to establish a national student bill of rights, before earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1949; and
WHEREAS, Washington continued his education at the Northwestern University School of Law, where he was the only Black student in his class; and
WHEREAS, After graduating with his J.D. in 1952, Washington began his long career in public service, following in his recently-deceased father's footsteps as a precinct captain in the 3rd Ward and becoming an Assistant City Prosecutor (1954-58) and an arbitrator for the Illinois Industrial Commission (1960-64); and
WHEREAS, During the at-large election in 1965, Washington won his first election to the Illinois House of Representatives with the second highest vote total State-wide, whe...
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