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 Tom as Deputy to Valerie Jarrett, who was Commissioner ofthe City of Chicago Planning Commission;
WHEREAS, Tom then moved to the City's Special Events Department where he was Director;
WHEREAS, when Tom retired from the Chicago of Chicago, he became a Consultant for Businesses;
WHEREAS, Tom has been a member ofthe Local School Council (LSC) since 1987, where he has served as Chairman since the date of its inception; he also serves on the Governor's Board as an LSC member at the Chicago Military Academy;
WHEREAS, Tom served on the Advisory Board ofthe Illinois College of Optometry;
WHEREAS, Tom moved from the GAP area and currently resides with this wife, where he is still on a mission to beautify the community;
WHEREAS, Tom is the father of two adult children, two grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren;
WHEREAS, Tom is an advocate for Harold Washington Park and has painted the benches and planted flowers in the area ofthe tennis courts, as he believes the park should be your "front yard;"
WHEREAS, Tom has run in 49 marathons in the United States and Germany;
NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT RESOLVED that we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 6th day of January, 2023, do hereby honor the service of TOM GRAY, and extend our sincere congratulations for his service to the community, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that suitable copies of this Resolution be presented to TOM GRAY as a sign of our good wishes.