RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, TOM GRAY, is a native of Clinton, Mississippi, and his family consisted of educators, agriculturalists, and truck drivers;
WHEREAS, Tom had aspirations to pursue a different career and moved to Chicago, Illinois to further his education at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Computer Sciences;
WHEREAS, after completing his Master's Degree in Computer Science, there was very little access for minorities to get employment in this field; however, Tom was hired by Amoco to work in the Engineering Research Lab at the downtown Chicago and Whiting, Indiana locations;
WHEREAS, Tom retired from Amoco, but felt he was too young to sit around;
WHEREAS, Tom founded "GAP" -- an organization formed to renovate, restore, and repair historic homes from the areas around 31st to 35th Street, from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Michigan Avenue;
WHEREAS, Tom and others in the GAP organization also worked to obtain additional resources for seniors and other residents who were interested in maintaining their homes;
WHEREAS, Tom also convinced Lakeside Bank and Illinois Federal Service Savings and Loan to lend mortgages to the younger generation of home buyers; and after this was accomplished, other banks soon followed;
WHEREAS, Tom felt that if he showed a commitment to enhancing the community, others would follow suit;
WHEREAS, Tom sat as a member ofthe Chicago Landmark Commission and worked diligently to have "The Gap" designated as a Landmark;
WHEREAS, Tom purchased a home designed by Architect Louis Sullivan that was near Christ the Mediator Lutheran Church, located at 3100 S. Calumet Avenue, where he was a member;
WHEREAS, Tom's next position was Director for U.S. Representative Bobby Rush of the First Congressional District, where he established two Field Offices - one at 79th & Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, IL and the other in Evergreen Park, IL;
WHEREAS, Tom's next opportunity was Deputy Campaign Manager for Mayor Richard M. Daley, who then hired...
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