MEMORIAL RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE OF AUGUST "AUGIE" SALLAS
WHEREAS, August "Augie" Sallas, loving father, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend passed away on April 1, 2022, at the age of 86, following a lifetime of service to his community; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of Augie's passing by the Honorable Michael Rodriguez, Alderman of the 22nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, Augie was born on August 28, 1935 on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, to his parents, Lawrence and Victoria Lara; after losing both parents at a young age, Augie was raised in Angel Guardian Orphanage on the North Side of Chicago, then moved to Freeport, Texas, for a year with his grandfather, before he returned to Chicago to live with his step-grandfather; and
WHEREAS, Augie graduated from Chicago Vocational High School in South Chicago and secured employment as an apprentice in the printing industry, before marrying his wife, Margaret (nee Perez) and raising six children; and
WHEREAS, After he established himself as a journeyman printer, Augie joined the Chicago Typographical Union (CTU) Local 16; as an active unionist with CTU, he was elected 13 times and served in various positions including as president, where he helped end a 40-month strike with the Chicago Tribune; he has the distinction of being the only Mexican-American to be elected president; and
WHEREAS, Augie moved his family to the Little Village Community (South Lawndale) to begin his career of political activism; Augie believed that the 22nd Ward, with a majority population of Mexicans, should have the right to elect a Mexican American Alderman; his efforts were ultimately successful and he later devoted his time supporting the Democratic Party and community service; and
WHEREAS, After his printing career, Augie worked in City Hall for 14 years, where he served as manager of customer service and as a tour guide under the administration of Mayor Richard M. Daley; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his political role in the 22nd Ward, Augie also served as the president of the Hispanic American Labor Council, as president of the Mexican American Youth Athletic Association amateur boxing club, as a columnist for the Lawndale News and the Hispanic Times, as a member of the Cook County State's Attorney Hispanic Advisory Council, he produced TV shows at Chicago Cable Access Corp., and he served as president ofthe Little Village Community Council for 15 years; and
WHEREAS, Augie also supported his union brothers and sisters by serving as secretary-treasurer ofthe Chicago Allied Printing Trade Council (CAPTC) for 12 years, as delegate in the state AFL-CIO and the Chicago Federation of Labor organizations, and participated in AFL-CIO of Illinois, the Chicago Federation of Labor, and the Chicago Independent Club activities; and
WHEREAS, Augie was the beloved husband of his late wife Margaret; father of Victoria Ann, August, Jr. (late) (Julie Tourville), Laurie, Jacqueline (Daniel J. Ansted), Julie, and Gregory (Lynn Borgini); grandfather to Dave Misner, his father David Misner (late), Mark Sallas (Erin Delegan), Tara (Brad Cozzie), Jillian, Anthony 'Tony' (Sherry Flinn), Matthew (late) (Samantha Lakie) Sallas,
their mother MaryBeth (nee Favia), Jennifer and Brooke Sallas; and great-grandfather to many; devoted brother to Joseph (late Mary Lou) Sallas; uncle to Joseph Jr. (late), Peter (late), Lawrence (late), Cynthia (Joseph) Davis, and Jon (Deanna Laughlin) Sallas; and cousin to his family in Freeport, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Augie's passion and years of dedication have left lasting impacts on every community he was a part of, improving the quality of life of his fellow residents of Little Village, as well as his fellow union brothers and sisters, and he will be dearly missed by many; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this twenty-seventh day of April, 2022, do hereby extend our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of August "Augie" Sallas; and
MICHAEL D. RODRIGUEZ Alderman, 22nd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be prepared and presented to the family of August "Augie" Sallas as a sign of our honor and respect.