Officer Barry D. Batson, Sr. Way

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 Street dedication for Officer Barry Batson SR. at Garfield Park - 300 N. Central Park; were he mentored youth with tennis tournaments!!! @Chicago_Police @ChicagoCAPS11 @AldermanErvin pic.twitter.com/pfn8Hmn7ks

— 11th District - Harrison (@ChicagoCAPS11) July 10, 2018

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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

 

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Source

Source

A Chicago Tour viewed from the 80th floor - Mid-America Club

The Mid-America Club and Honorary Chicago present the second installment of the skyscraper tour by Chicago author, Linda Zabors

Tour from Atop, II

Chicago history, streets, and architecture

Chicago as viewed from the private club on the top floor of the Aon Center. This is an indoor tour overlooking the city below.

Saturday, October 20, 2018
due to unforeseen circumstances this tour has been rescheduled for early 2019

The Mid-America Club

200 East Randolph Street
Aon Building, 80th floor
Chicago, IL, 60601

Rain or shine, this tour views the city from the top floor of Chicago’s third tallest building

October 20th
10:30 AM  Architecture and History Tour

$25 includes the tour and brunch refreshments

Reservations required
Contact the Mid-America Club (312) 861-1100

 

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Mid-America Club - Tour Chicago from the 80th floor

Honorary Chicago presents

Tour from Atop

 

Chicago's ten tallest buildings viewed from the private club on the top floor of the Aon Center

Saturday, July 21, 2018

The Mid-America Club

200 East Randolph Street
Aon Building, 80th floor
Chicago, IL, 60601

10:30 AM  Chicago Inside and Out Tour

$15 includes the tour and brunch refreshments

Reservations required
Contact the Mid-America Club (312) 861-1100

 

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Gorale Podhalanscy Way

The Gorale are an ethnic group from the Carpathian mountain highlands of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Ukraine.

The Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America is located near Archer Avenue and Pulaski Avenue in Chicago and was founded in 1929.

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Honorary Gorale Podhalanscy Way

South Archer between Hamlin and Lawndale

 

Approved: 2018

Ward: 14
Alderman: Burke and Reboyras (30)
Neighborhood: Archer Heights

Polish Highlander Alliance of North America
4808 S. Archer Avenue

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Source

Inez Loredo Street

Throughout her life, Inez Loredo broke through barriers and took on increasingly large roles helping children in the Pilsen neighborhood get access to education and build a strong community. In 1921 Inez was born in Harlingen, Texas. She was the first Mexican-American woman in her town to graduate from high school. 

When she moved to Chicago she was very involved in her children's school, Jungman Elementary, where she was first bi-lingual PTA member. She took on the role of School Community Representative (SCR) at Jungman where she helped local families enroll their children in school; she often acted as translator. Inez was instrumental in getting bilingual teachers hired into the Chicago Public Schools. She helped build high schools, libraries, and healthcare centers. She also founded the Fiesta de Sol; it became the largest Latino festival in the midwest. 

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Honorary Inez Loredo Street

 

Morgan Street from West 16th to West 18th

Approved: 2018

Ward: 25
Alderman: Solis
Neighborhood: Pilsen

Birthplace: Harlingen, Texas.
November 7, 1921
October 7, 2017

Honorary Chicago on CRIS Radio

Linda Zabors was interviewed by Ruth Fairfax Frazier and Marshall Mathews on Tuesday, May 8

Linda Zabors, author of the Honorary Chicago series, at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind

Broadcast: May 8, 2018

This episode includes information on the history of Chicago's honorary streets and the street grid system, recent changes to the honorary signs program, and the stories behind several signs including:

Dolores Mueller Bajda
Ann Landers
Dr Henry Betts
WOOGMS
Gene Chandler
Bill Veeck
Confucius
Bernarda Wong
Mother Teresa
Ida B. Wells
Stone Temple Baptist Church
Edward Brennan
Swami Vivekananda
Bob Fosse
Senn Centennial
Pat Sajak
Jesse White

The Honorary Chicago Guidebook and series are printed in the United States in large print for the enjoyment of the visually impaired and the comfort of all readers.

Marshall Mathews and Ruth Fairfax Frazier, of CRIS Radio with the Honorary Chicago Guidebook

The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind

The Chicagoland Radio Information Service (CRIS Radio) is located at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. It is a public service which provides daily news read on-air for the benefit of the vision impaired.  Ruth Fairfax Frazier is the founder of the FAACT organization and hosts a daily broadcast on CRIS radio.

The interview can be found on the Lighthouse for the Blind website. 
https://chicagolighthouse.org/podcasts/

The FAACT Organization: The Forum to Achieve Altruism, Compassion, and Tolerance
Building Communities ~ Strengthening Nations (BCSN)

Steve Lombardo Way

Steve Lombardo is co-owner of the Gibsons Restaurant Group. 

Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse
Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House
Quartinos Pizzeria and Wine Bar
Luxe Bar

RL - The Ralph Lauren Restaurant
The Polo Bar (New York City, 2015)

Gibsons opened in May 1989.  Opening night was full of notable people and events including the engagement of Candice Jordan to her husband Chuck, their photo on this occasion is on a wall at Gibsons. Also, former owner and Bears Football #42 MVP and Quarterback, Sid Luckman.

Steve and his wife, Peggy, are long time supporters of Misericoria and received the Sister Rosemary Connelly Service Medallion Award.

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Approved: February 2017
Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
100 East Bellevue Place
Neighborhood: Gold Coast

Dedicated: 2017
Steve Lombardo's honorary sign is located outside the Gibson's Restaurant

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Chicago Tribune, April 2, 2015
Gibson's Restaurant Group

Twitter: @GibsonsSteak

Honorary Streets TEDx presentation at Mid-America Club

Chicago's historian of brown honorary street signs gave a brief presentation at the TEDx-IIT and Toastmasters event held at the Mid-America Club atop the Aon building this month.

Honorary Chicago Guidebook author, Linda Zabors, presenting at Mid-America Club TEDx-IIT pitch event

About 20 presenters gave TEDx pitches with topics ranging from blockchain and futurism to personal stories of triumph. 

New East Side News article

Honorary Chicago New Signs Class of 2017

Annual report of the newly designated brown honorary signs in Chicago for the year 2017

There were 41 new honorary signs in 2017, this is down from 85 in 2016

A landmark change to the qualifications significantly reduced the number of honorees from 2017 forward.  This change took effect after the February 2017 Chicago City Council meeting.

List is alphabetical by first name OR title AS IT appearS THE on sign

Class of 2017

ALEKO KONSTANTINOV WAY

AVENIDA CARMEN ESCARZAGA

BLAIR DELANE HOLT

COACH KIRK VIDAS WAY

DEE JAY RODRIGUEZ WAY

DONALD SANSONE

DOUG BOSTIC

DR. EDWARD & MILDRED CRUZAT WAY

DR. LORRAINE R. BROYLS WAY

EDWARD G. IRVIN

ESTHER GOLAR WAY

FF BILL GRANT WAY 

FRED SAUFNAUER WAY

GEORGE 'POPPIE' BLACK, SR. WAY

HONORABLE CLARK BURRUS WAY

JAVIER 'JAVY' BAEZ WAY

JOE MANTEGNA WAY

K9S FOR VETERANS WAY

KEVIN RYAN WAY

LUCY GONZALEZ PARSONS WAY

MARTHA LAVEY

MICHAEL 'DYKO' PRESBITERO

MIGUEL SUAREZ 

MONSIGNOR DOLAN DRIVE

OFFICER MICHAEL FLISK AVENUE

OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA WAY

PASTOR EARL GRANDBERRY, SR. WAY

PETER J. MARTINEZ WAY

P.F.C. JOSEPH M. SCHALLMOSER

PHIL JONES

PHILIP O. COLEMAN

POWISLE DABROWSKIE WAY

ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE

STEVE LOMBARDO WAY

TEMPLE SHOLOM WAY

THE SELFHELP HOME

THERESA M. PETTY-PHILPOT WAY

VINCE GAVIN WAY

WALTER L. WILLIAMS

ZIEMIA MONIECKA WAY

ZIEMIA PODHALANSKA

 

And in other Honorary Chicago news...

DEDICATION OF HORSE OF HONOR PUBLIC ART MEMORIAL TO FALLEN POLICE OFFICER DANIEL E. HOWARD

Hugh M. Hefner Way

Honorary Hugh M. Hefner Way, with remnant of former (presumably stolen) sign below it. March 2015
Photo: Honorary Chicago 

Hugh Hefner was the founder of Playboy Magazine and a legend in his own time

Hugh Hefner published the first Playboy Magazine in 1953 with a nude centerfold of Marilyn Monroe.  That was the beginning of his adult entertainment empire which included clubs, television, music, literature, interviews with historic figures, and lots of controversy.

Hugh grew up on Chicago's Northwest side and attended Chicago Public Schools: Sayer Elementary School and Steinmetz High School. 

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Hugh graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1949.

Playboy Enterprises was located in Chicago from its inception until the headquarters moved to California in 2012.

The original Playboy Mansion was in the Gold Coast neighborhood at 1340 N. State Parkway. It is now a condominium building.

The first Playboy Club was located at 116 E. Walton Street.  This building and address no longer exist.

Hugh M. Hefner Way

Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile
Dedicated: April 11, 2000

April 9, 1926 - September 27, 2017
Age 91.

The honorary sign is located outside 919 N. Michigan Avenue, the former headquarters of Playboy Enterprises.  This building is also known as the Palmolive Building and is recognizable in the Chicago skyline by the bright light atop the building. 

 

Due to recent changes in Chicago's Honorary Street program, new honorary signs can no longer honor a living person.  Hugh Hefner Way was installed before this change; he was one of the last surviving honorees.

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Honorary Sign FAQ

2nd Annual - Honorary Signs Tour of State Street with the Chicago History Museum

Sunday, August 6th at 2pm

Honorary Chicago Street Signs Walking Tour

Have you ever wondered who the people are who have honorary streets named for them?

Explore State Street as you have never seen it before - through the stories of the famous, infamous, and obscure people who made Chicago great.  

Join the Chicago History Museum as it presents the second annual
Honorary Street Signs Walking tour
with the author of the Honorary Chicago Guidebook, Linda Zabors

Walking tour of Chicago's Brown Honorary Street Signs along State Street

2pm in the lobby of the Harold Washington Library Center on Sunday, August 6th

Approximately 90 minutes and 1 mile

 

Terrence Callier Way

Terrence Collier Way - by request from a fan

"Would you be so kind as to tell me where Terrance Callier way is.
I'm a British expat, now living in Chicago, and Terry Callier' s music was very important to me growing up."

Yes, we take requests! - contact us

Terry Collier

Terrence Collier was a musician and vocalist who used his voice as an instrument.  His distinctive style and arrangement was an eclectic blend of Folk, Soul, Jazz, and African music.

For much of his life Terrence was more influential than he was famous. His career began early; in high school he recorded with Chess Records. He released albums between 1968 and 1978 on labels such as Electra and Cadet.  He also wrote songs and arranged music.

In the years before his 1998 comeback with the album "TimePeace," he trained and worked as a computer programmer.  In his late 50s he was able to quit his day job and return to his dream job - performing his music. 

Terrence was born in Chicago and lived in the Cabrini-Green housing projects.  He learned and practiced music in the local Chicago park field house. He was contemporaries with Curtis Mayfield and many other talented Cabrini alumni.  Terrence said this of his early experience and musical influence:

On any summer night you could walk by [the field house] and hear fantastic music – these guys could blow, and there were girl groups that sounded like angels... I learned early on to listen to everything – classical music and ethnic music from Africa and Middle East, and it all comes out in your work.

Listen to Terry Collier on YouTube

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Terrence Callier Way

Northwest corner of Sedgwick Street and Elm Street, cul-du-sac of Elm Street just west of pedestrian walkway at Seward Park near field house where Terrence played.

Approved: October 2016
Ward: 27
Alderman: Burnett
Neighborhood: Cabrini/Seward Park
Dedicated: June 16, 2017

May 24, 1945 - October 27, 2012

Crane High School

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

 

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Chicago Tribune, Terry Callier: Farewell to a distinctive Chicago voice, October 30, 2012
New York Times

Kun Chae Bae Way

Impressive Korean media magnate in Chicago.  Established Bay Laboratories, Foster Bank, Channel 28.  Board of Directors of North Park University and involved with several Korean trade, commerce and cultural organizations.

He owned the Korean Cable Television Network of Chicago, founder and former president, the Korean American Broadcasting Company and Chicago KBS and is currently the president and co-owner of KM Ventures, Inc., a real estate development firm.

1956 came to Chicago

Alumni:
1960 Millikin University, bachelor of Chemistry

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Honorary Kun Chae Bae Way

North Kedzie and Foster Avenue

 

Approved July 21, 2004 (for 70th birthday)

Ward; 40
Alderman: O’ Connor
Neighborhood: North Park
 

b. 1934. Jae Ju, South Korea

Near
North Park University

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Free Father's Day Tour of the Chicago Riverwalk

Join us this Sunday at 1pm for a free walking tour by Honorary Chicago.  

The first 8 fathers to take the tour will get a complementary copy of the Honorary Chicago Guidebook. 

Meet on the river side near Orleans Street and the statue of Montgomery Ward.

1pm Sunday, June 18th

Look for the Honorary Chicago Tour Flag

 

FF Bill Grant Way

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.

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Approved February 2017
Ward: 19
Alderman: O'Shea

West 90th Street and South Hoyne Avenue

Truck 51
March 23, 2007. Age 44.

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National Fallen Firefighters Foundation: William F. Grant
FirefightingLinks

Emily Beazley Avenue

Emily Beazley was a 12 year old who died following a four year battle with cancer and deeply moved her friends, family, classmates, neighborhood, and Grammy Award Winner Taylor Swift. “Emily’s Entourage” was her purple and green clad fan base which raised money for her care and the establishment of the foundation in her name to find a cure for childhood cancers.

Honorary Chicago Police Officer

YouTube

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Honorary Emily Beazley Avenue

Location: 108th Homan

 

Approved: May 2015

Ward: 19
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Mount Greenwood

b. 2002
d. 2015. Age 12. Chicago

Near
Her home

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Source

https://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=emily-beazley&pid=174896611