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222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL, 60654

312-380-9883

Chicago's honorary brown street signs, days, and commemorative honors; the who, what, where, when and why.  Honorary Chicago guide book, maps, biographies, history, trivia, tours, and gifts.

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Filtering by Tag: First Responder

Dwain P Williams

Linda Zabors

Dwain Williams was a 26 year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department. In 1992 he served as an Emergency Medical Technician to Engine 122 and later as a Fire Academy instructor in hazardous incidents and terrorist response. In 2018 he retired having achieved the rank of Lieutenant. He also worked in the Office of Emergency Management and Communication as a Watch Officer.

Prior to his time in the Chicago Fire Department, he served in the Army in international locations and in the Reserves as a Wire Systems Installer and Operator and at the 501st Signal Battalion and the 101st Airborne Assault Division. He was a decorated soldier and was an expert sharpshooter and hand grenade expert.

Dwain was intellectually curious and deeply knowledgeable. He earned four degrees and more than 80 certifications in professional and independent studies. He also had a passion for basketball, music and chess. He was a guitarist and went by the stage name “D-Sharp” with RAM Band and Mixed Nutz.

He taught computers and physical education at St. Phillip Neri School

Mentored at risk youth and athletics at the Chicago Park District

Listed in Who’s Who of Outstanding Young Americans

Veteran: Army. Active Duty 1976, Army Reserves
American Legion - George Giles Post #87

Alumnus:
Additional degrees and certifications
Harper High School
Altgeld Elementary School


Honorary Lt. Dwain P. Williams Way

South Peoria Street, between 95th Street and 98th Street

 

Approved: February 2022

Ward: 34 and 21
Alderman: Austin and Brookins
Neighborhood: Longwood Manor

b. April 19, 1955
d. December 3, 2020. Age 65


Source

2022255,181

Guadalupe and Maria Lopez

Linda Zabors

Husband and wife who died of COVID-19 within weeks of each other. Guadalupe (Lupe) Lopez was an Emergency 911 Dispatcher at the Office of Emergency Management for the City of Chicago, where he worked for 33 years. He was also a coach of his neighborhood little league baseball team. Maria (Lupita) was very active in the Little Village community where she had an income tax business.

They both went into the hospital on November 8 and died within weeks. Due to the Pandemic conditions they could not be in the same room with each other and said goodbye using a video service.


Honorary Guadalupe and Maria Lopez Way

South Kenneth Street between 47th Street and 48th Street

 

Approved: April 2021

Ward: 14
Alderman: Burke
Neighborhood: Archer Heights

Near the home where the lived and raised their family

Guadalupe (Lupe)
d. November 2020. Age 58.

Maria (Lupita)
d. December 2020. Age 56.


Source
ABC News
ABC News - Maria Lopez
Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-covid19-maria-lopez-police-dispatcher-wife-20201205-4d7vbbxlkfbfxehoxgp6d6aqxe-story.html

Major Gary Hughes

Linda Zabors

Gary G. Hughes was a Chicago Police Officer for 19 years, and a Major in the U.S. Army active duty and reserves since the age of 20.

Veteran: U..S Army, Major. Panama, Operation Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan


Honorary Gary Hughes Way

South Natchez Avenue, from West 61st Street to West 63rd Street

 

Approved: May 2018

Ward: 13
Alderman: Quinn
Neighborhood: Clearing

b. November 30, 1967
d. February 28, 2018. Age 50. Cancer


CFD Terrence Collins Way

Linda Zabors

Terrence Collins was a retired Battalion Chief in the Chicago Fire Department. He had a 37-year career as a firefighter. He was always willing be of service and to help someone in need. He was awarded the highest honor awarded by the City of Chicago, the Lambert Tree Medal in 1981 for saving the lives of two children from a fire.

Alumni
St. Gabriel’s Elementary School
Tilden High School

Veteran: Navy, airplane mechanic

Awards: Lambert Tree Medal from the City of Chicago


Honorary CFD Battalion Chief Terrence Collins Way

5700 South Nordica Avenue

 

Approved: October 2020

Ward: 23
Alderman: Tabares
Neighborhood: Garfield Ridge

Revised: November 2020

b. March 4, 1943
d. August 2, 2020. Age 77


Joseph F. Ferguson Way

Linda Zabors

Patrolman Joseph Ferguson was shot while making an arrest in the last days of 1968.


Honorary Joseph F. Ferguson Way

 

West side of South Paulina Street between West 32nd Place and West 33rd Place

Approved: July 2019

Ward: 12
Alderman: Cardenas
Neighborhood: McKinley Park

d. December 27, 1968. Age 26. Chicago 


Officer Barry D. Batson, Sr. Way

Linda Zabors

Barry Batson, Sr. was a Chicago Police Officer assigned to protect Martin Luther King, Jr. when the Reverend moved to Chicago in the late 1960s. Officer Batson would drive Martin Luther King to and from the airport, and was at his side at large public events, including Dr. King’s speech at Soldier Field. At the time there were many threats to Dr. King’s life. Late in Officer Batson’s career he was a community service officer who coached sports in the parks to kids and inspired them through his stories of Dr. King.


Honorary Officer Barry D. Batson, Sr. Way

Central Park Drive between Lake Street and Carroll Avenue

Approved: June 2018

Ward: 28
Alderman: Ervin
Neighborhood: Austin

b. December 7, 1934
d. May 29, 2005. Age 70.

Near
Garfield Park Conservatory

 

FF Bill Grant Way

Linda Zabors

Firefighter Bill Grant served the Chicago Fire Department for 21 years and died in the line of duty when his truck overturned while responding to a fire.

In 2001 he was honored by Mayor Daley and the City of Chicago for his rescue of a 70-year old disabled woman from a house fire.

His father and brother were also Chicago firefighters.


 

Approved February 2017
Ward: 19
Alderman: O'Shea

West 90th Street and South Hoyne Avenue

Truck 51
March 23, 2007. Age 44.


National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: William F. Grant
FirefightingLinks

Officer Michael Flisk Avenue

Linda Zabors

Officer Michael Flisk died in the line of duty in 2010.  Officer Flisk served 19 years as a police evidence technician and was gunned down at the scene of a vehicle burglary by the hidden burglar.  The owner of the burglarized vehicle was also killed.

The gunman was found and charged with two murders and sentenced to life in prison.

Michael Flisk's three sons all became Chicago Police Officers.

 

Approved: February 2017
West 99th Street and South Artesian Avenue
Ward: 19
Alderman: O'Shea
Neighborhood: Beverly

Michael Ronald Flisk
Star #6962
November 26, 2010. Age 46.


National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund: Michael Ronald Flisk
Officer Down Memorial Page

9/9/2014 Dedication of Honorary Sign to Police Officers Hauser & Killroy

Linda Zabors

Today at 6pm there will be a dedication of an honorary street in 36th Ward of Alderman Nicholas Sposato, at the corner of West Palmer Street and North Nordica Avenue.

Police officers Gregory Hauser (age 43) & Raymond Killroy (age 47) of the Grand-Central Chicago Police District died in the line of duty on May 13, 1990 when called to the scene of a domestic dispute on Nordica Ave.