Dr. Lester Fisher

Dr. Lester Fisher was the first veterinarian and director of the Lincoln Park Zoo from 1962 to 1992. He led the zoo to become a leading institution in Chicago and among zoos around the world. Under his leadership the zoo developed habitats, not just cages, for animals. He also led conservation efforts and plans for species survival - he specialized in primates.

Dr Fisher appeared regularly on televisions shows including: Zoo Parade, Bozo’s Circus, and the Ray Rayner Show “Ark in the Park” segment.

Lester Fisher was born in Chicago and served in WWII as a veterinarian; among his duties were treating General Patton’s bull terrier, Willie.

Veteran: WWII. Army

Alumni:
University of Iowa

Autobiography: Dr. Fisher’s Life on the Ark

---

Honorary Dr. Lester Fisher Way

Stockton Drive at the Ridge Connecting Drive bridge. Outside the Lincoln Park Zoo

 

Approved:

Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

b. February 24, 1921
d. December 22, 2021. Age 100

---

Source

Ed Negron

Ed Negron was a former writer and photographer for the Windy City Times, activist, and addiction counselor in the LGBTQ community in Chicago. He had also worked in housing at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago to reduce homelessness among low-income and recovering populations.

He was an outspoken advocate who mentored for his communities facing drug addiction and trafficking, former gang membership, bisexual, Puerto Rican, and veteran causes; he was a member of all these groups and it was his mission to battle the challenges inherent in these causes.

Ed was the cofounder of Queer Alliance Chicago and he served as a volunteer for many local organizations including: Latin American Men in Action (ALMA), Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse, Equality Illinois, and International Mr. Leather (IML).

Chicago LGTB Hall of Fame inductee, 2006, at age 35

Veteran: US Army

---

Honorary Ed Negron Way

North Clark Street from West Devon Avenue to West Schreiber Avenue

 

Approved: December 2021

Ward: 40
Alderman: Vasquez
Neighborhood: Edgewater/Rogers Park

d. July 23, 2021. Age 50.

International Mr. Leather
6410 North Clark Street

---

Source

GoPride

Windy City Times

https://www.youtube.com/user/ednpride/videos

Kurt A. Krueger

Corporal Kurt A. Kruger was a Marine 1980-1984 who served in Grenada and Lebanon conflicts; after his years of service he returned to Chicago delivered mail with the U.S. Post Office for thirty years.

Kurt grew up in the Chrysler Village neighborhood of Chicago and later raised his own family nearby.

Alumnus:
St. Laurence High School
St. Symporosa Elementary School

Veteran: Marines - Grenada, Lebanon

---

Honorary CPL Kurt A. Krueger Way

West 63rd Place at South Latrobe Avenue

 

Approved: 2021

Ward: 13
Alderman: Quinn
Neighborhood: West Lawn

b. July 2, 1962
d. December 22, 2019. Age 57

---

Source

Bruno Roti

Bruno Roti was the owner of Bruno’s Lounge in Rogers Park which he started in 1956. It is a long time half-bar, half-liquor store in the vicinity Loyola University, and well known by students and local residents. Bruno moved to the neighborhood when he was 10, and stayed and raised his own family and ran the bar 7-days a week from early morning to late night. Everyone in the neighborhood knew Bruno. They visited him after they moved away. He was always there to help. When he retired his son took over the bar, and he still spent his time there.

Education:
Loyola Academy
St. Ignatius

Veteran: Army

---

Honorary Bruno Roti Way

Sheridan between Albion and Loyola

 

Approved: 2021

Ward: 49
Alderman: Hadden
Neighborhood: Rogers Park

d. Age 87

Bruno & Tim’s Lounge
6562 N. Sheridan Road

---

https://chibarproject.com/reviews/brunotims/

Timuel Black

Timuel Black was a black historian, professor, Civil Rights activist who lived on the South Side of Chicago and lived to be 102 years old.

His family moved to Chicago from Birmingham, Alabama when he was a year old; they were fleeing racial segregation and seeking better education for their children.

Timuel Black helped organize more than 2,500 Chicagoans to attend the Martin Luther King March on Washington. He also worked on the campaign that elected Chicago’s first black Mayor, Harold Washington.

As a soldier in WWII, he was moved by the atrocities he saw in Europe as a result of the Nazi regime; he dedicated his life to civil rights.

He was on the faculty at City Colleges of Chicago

Timuel Black is the author of several books, including: Bridges of Memory (two volumes) and Sacred Ground

Education:

University of Chicago

Roosevelt University

DuSable High School

Wendell Phillips High School

Englewood High School

Burke Elementary

Veteran: WWII, Army. Europe - Invasion of Normandy and Battle of the Bulge

---

Photo Credit: CC0 Timuel Black

---

Honorary Timuel Black Way

4800 to 5000 South State Street

 

Approved: November 2012

Ward: 3
Alderman: Dowell
Neighborhood: Bronzeville

b. December 7, 1918. Birmingham, Alabama
d. October 13, 2021. Age 102. Chicago

---

Source

TheHistoryMakers.org: Biography - Timuel Black

Archbishop Lucius Hall

Lucius Hall was the founded of the First Church of Love and Faith, in Chicago’s Auburn-Gresham Neighborhood in 1980, one year after becoming a minister. Lucius was the Executive Director of the Head Start program at his church. In 2010 he became an Archbishop by the Metropolitan Spiritual Churches of Christ, inc. For twenty years (1990-2010) he was the Executive Director of Chicago Gospel Fest. During the same timeframe, he served as Chairman of City of Chicago Personnel and Human Resources Board under two Chicago Mayors.

Music was a huge part of Lucius’ life and his ministry. As a teenager he was a radio announcer and later the Channel 26 WCIU producer and host of the “Rock of Ages Gospel Hour.” In 1979 he founded the Broadcast Ministries Alliance, and later hosted the groups Cable TV program.

After serving in the US Army he had a thirty year career with the Veterans Administration. He became a minister in 1979 and founded or co-founded several programs and organizations including: one of the first food pantries in his neighborhood, and an international organization of US and West African churches - The First Spiritual Churches of Truth, Inc.

Veteran: Army, Military Police

Born in Chicago

Alumni:
Burke Grade School
DuSable High School
University of Illinois at Chicago
Gospel Outreach Theological Institute. Houston, TX (Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree)

---

Honorary Archbishop Lucius Hall

West 79th Street, between South Seeley Avenue and South Hamilton Avenue

 

Approved: February 2021

Ward: 18
Alderman: Curtis
Neighborhood: Auburn-Gresham

d. April 2, 2020. Age 87.

The First Church of Love and Faith
2140 West 79th Street

---

Source
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Crusader

Bruce J. Graham Way

Bruce Graham was a famous Chicago architect who designed buildings all over the world. He was born in Colombia, South America to Canadian and Peruvian parents and grew up in Puerto Rico. He came to Chicago and apprenticed for Holabird and Root architects; most of his career was at Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM) where he and structural engineer, Fazlur Khan were an outstanding team. In Chicago they built the Sears Tower (Willis Tower) and the John Hancock Building (875 N. Michigan Avenue). He was one of the contributors to the Chicago 21 plan of 1973, an extension of the Burnham Plan of Chicago. He was also a Pew Fellow.

Alumni
University of Pennsylvania, Architecture
Case Western Reserve
University of Dayton
Colegio San Jose de Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Veteran: U.S. Navy

Chicago Architecture Center - 875 N. Michigan Avenue (John Hancock Center)
The John Hancock Building is now known by it’s street address. 875 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago 360 is the name of the observation deck which is on the 94th floor.

Ten Tallest Buildings in Chicago

---

Honorary Bruce J. Graham Way

Chestnut Street between Mies van der Rohe Way and Michigan Avenue

 

Approved: 2010

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile/Gold Coast

b. December 1, 1925. Columbia, South America
d. March 10, 2010. Age 84. Florida
burial: Graceland Cemetery, Chicago

Near
John Hancock Building
875 North Michigan Avenue

Bruce Graham is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago next to his architectural colleague Fazlur Khan

---

Source

New York Times

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Graham

https://www.architecture.org/programs-events/detail/in-their-own-words-building-the-john-hancock/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvIWzBhAlEiwAHHWgvWOnh1hHRxT_fW1zRsPfrSMt-B-wRkpf2hjCQ7s7YyMMeoEb1of3kRoCAPsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Center

Chicago Architecture Center - 875 N. Michigan Avenue (John Hancock Center)

Harold A. Bezazian Way

Harold Arsene Bezazian was born and raised in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood to Armenian immigrant parents. He was a journalist for the Chicago Times and publicity manager for the Chicago Auto Club. Following the attach on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the military to fight in WWII. He died, while leading a rescue mission in the Philippines.

The Harold Bezazian Branch of the Chicago Public Library was dedicated in 1957 as a memorial from his father.

Alumni
Senn High School
Oberlin College
Columbia University, Journalism

Veteran: Army, WWII, europe, Philippines. Purple Heart, Bronze Star

---

Honorary Lt. Harold A. Bezazian Way

1226 West Ainslie

 

Approved: 2018

Ward: 46
Alderman: Cappleman
Neighborhood: Uptown

b. Chicago
d: March 11, 1945. Age 33. WWII Philippines

Near
Harold Bezazian Branch, Chicago Public Library
1226 West Ainsley

---

Source

Columbia

Uptown Update

Patch

Major Gary Hughes

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

---

Source

Honor A Hero Project

Roslyn and Seymour Simon Circle

Seymour F. Simon was the Chief Justice on the Illinois Supreme Court, former Cook County Board President, and former Alderman of the 40th Ward. He became known for his dissenting opinions in court, and against Mayor and the party line. Roslyn started her own corporate gifts business after the death of her first husband. She is also a was a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette and competed in the Miss America Pagent as Miss Philadelphia.

Alumni (Seymour):
Roosevelt High School
Northwestern University
Northwestern Law

Veteran: Navy, WWII

---

Honorary Roslyn and Seymour Simon Circle

North Avenue Parkway at Sheridan Road

Approved:

Ward:
Alderman:
Neighborhood: Old Town/Gold Coast

Seymour
b. August 10, 1915. Chicago
d. September 2006. Age 91. Chicago

Roslyn
b. 2015
d. April 12, 2007. Age 91. Chicago

 

---

Source

Source

CFD Terrence Collins Way

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

---

Source

Donald Sansone Way

Lance Corporal Donald Frank Sansone served in the Vietnam War and died in battle.

Veteran: Marines, Vietnam

Alumni
St. Edwards School
Schurz High School (Football Lineman of the Year)

---

Honorary Donald Sansone Way

4000-4199 N. Kolmar

 

Approved: 2017

Ward: 45
Alderman: Arena
Neighborhood: Portage Park

b. July 26, 1948
d. November 6, 1967. Age 19. Vietnam

Near
His residence

---

Source

The Wall of Faces

Irma and Willie Pickens Way

Willie Pickens was a famous Chicago Jazz Pianist. His wife Irma, was his producer.

He taught music theory and performance throughout his career including: a collaboration between public high schools and Ravinia, and at Northern Illinois University.

Other collaborations included major Jazz Festivals around the world, the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, and the Willie Pickens Trio.

YouTube playlist: Willie Pickens. Honorary Chicago channel

Willie - Alumni
Milwaukee Conservatory of Music
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Veteran: U.S. Army, Army band -Clarinet

---

Honorary Irma and Willie Pickens Way

5600 S. Kimbark Avenue

Approved: 2018

 

Ward: 5
Alderman: Hairston
Neighborhood: Hyde Park

Dedicated: December 2, 2018

Willie
b. 1931. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
d. December 2017. Age 86

Irma
d. 2015

Near
Their residence for more than 40 years

Mural of Willie Pickens by artist Desi Mundo, between the auditorium doors of Ray School
5631 S. Kimbark Avenue

---

Source

Hyde Park Historical Society

YouTube playlist - Willie Pickens

Eugene Lang Way

Eugene Lang founded Lang Exteriors in 1953; he built and installed windows and doors. His son Darb Lang succeeded him in the business. While serving in WWII Eugene invented the T-Wrench for setting the depth and speed of a torpedo.

Veteran: WWII

---

Honorary Eugene Lang Way

West 59th Street between Western Avenue and Oakley Avenue

 

Approved: April 2018

Ward: 16
Alderman: Foulkes
Neighborhood: Marquette Park

d: age 78.

Near
Lang Exteriors, Inc. headquarters
2323 W 59th Street

---

Source

Eugene J. Lang

Milton I. Shadur Way

The Honorable Milton Irving Shadur was a U.S. Federal Court judge for the Northern District of Illinois for thirty-seven years. When he retired he had been one of the longest serving Federal judges. He wrote more than 11,000 opinions while on the bench; he was appointed in 1980 by President Carter. Judge Shadur was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chicago Bar Association. Judge Shadur served on the Village Board for Glencoe and was a life trustee of the Ravinia Festival.

Photo: US Government, Public Domain

Alumni:
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Law School

Veteran: Navy, Lieutenant. WWII

Founding member of Congregation Am Shalom

---

Honorary The Honorable Milton I. Shadur Way

West Adams Street, from South Dearborn Street to South Clark Street

 

Approved: July 2019

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Loop/Federal Plaza

b. June 25, 1924, St Paul, Minnesota
d. January 15, 2018. Age 93. Glenview, Illinois

Near
Dirksen Courthouse Building
218 South Dearborn

---

YouTube playlist: Milton Shadur. Honorary Chicago

Source

Photo credit

SPC Henry Mayfield, Jr. Way

Army Specialist Henry “Mitch” Mayfield, Jr., from south suburban Hazel Crest, was killed in the line of duty during an al-Shabab militant group attack on Manda Bay Airfield, a U.S. base in Kenya, which killed two others and damaged six aircraft. He served as part of field operations for Operation Octave Shield, which carried out intelligence gathering and air strikes on Somalia.

Mayfield was a dynamic soldier who inspired those he served with to excel both on and off duty. The 164th Theater Airfield Operations Group will miss his leadership and camaraderie.

- Col. William Garber

Alumni:
Hillcrest High School
Northern Illinois University

Veteran: Army SPC, died serving in Kenya in 2020. Operation Octave Shield

---

Honorary SPC Henry Mayfield, Jr. Way

5500 block of S. Laflin

 

Approved: June 2020

Ward: 16
Alderman: Coleman
Neighborhood: Englewood

b. October 14, 1996
d. January 5, 2020
Age 23.

---

Source

John Prine Way

John Prine was a Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter. His style was humorous social commentary country folk music. He had worked as a letter carrier and in the 1970s performed weekly in local Chicago club, the Fifth Peg, when Roger Ebert wrote a glowing review in the Chicago Sun-Times which launched John’s folk music career. Since then many famous singers such as: Johnny Cash, Bette Middler, and Bonnie Raitt, and George Strait have recorded his songs. Since 1981 his son, Jody Whelan, has run John’s independent record and publishing company, Oh Boy Records. John Prine was posthumously named an honorary poet laureate of the State of Illinois in 2020. He died in Nashville at age 73 from complications of the COVID-19 virus.

Veteran: U.S. Army in Germany

YouTube

---

Honorary John Prine Way

West Armitage Avenue between North Fremont Street and North Dayton Street (853-858)

 

Approved: May 2020

Ward: 43
Alderman: Smith
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park

b. October 10, 1946. Maywood, IL
d. April 7, 2020. Nashville, TN
Age 73

* Amended location 2021

---

Source

Disney Family Avenue

Walt Disney, and his brother Roy, were born in Chicago in a house built by their parents. Their father, Elias, was a carpenter. He built the family house, he also worked on the 1893 World Fair in Chicago and he told his children stories about the Fair.

Disney is best known for his animated films and theme parks. As an individual Walt won 22 Oscars and was nominated for an Academy award 59 times. He also won 2 Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy.

Born in Chicago: Walt, 1901; Roy, 1893

Alumni
McKinley High School. Chicago
predecessor to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago

WWI Red Cross Ambulance Driver

www.thewaltdisneybirthplace.org

Walt Disney grew up in a house in Chicago's Hermosa neighborhood at 2156 N. Tripp Ave., which was built in 1893. The new homeowners have made several renovat...

---

Honorary Disney Family Avenue

North Tripp Street between West Armitage Avenue and West Fullerton Avenue

 

Approved: May 2016

Ward: 35
Alderman: Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Hermosa

Walt Disney’s Birthplace
2156 N. Tripp Avenue

Walter Elias Disney
b. December 5, 1901. Chicago
d. December 15, 1966. Age 65. Los Angeles, California

---

Photo credits: Kari Carbone karicarbone.com

Walt Disney Birthplace and Facebook page and Wikipedia and IMDB
A Cinderella story for Walt Disney's childhood home - Chicago Tribune

Clarence L . Shaffer, Sr. Drive

Clarence Shaffer was a Navy WWII veteran and former professional baseball player in the Southern Negro League. He was Deacon of The Way of The Cross Holiness Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago for 37 years, where his wife was the Pastor, W.E. Shaffer.

Veteran: Navy, WWII

Born: Mississippi

---

Honorary Clarence L. Shaffer, Sr. Drive

 

South Halsted between 81st to 83rd*

Approved: January 2020

Ward: 21
Alderman: Howard Brookins, Jr.
Neighborhood: South Side, Auburn Gresham

b: Mississippi July 22, 1925
d: Chicago April 16, 2012. Age 87.

Near
The Way of The Cross Holiness M.B. Church
8229 S. Halsted

* the location was amended to 81st to 83rd Street in 2021

Justice John Paul Stevens Way

John Paul Stevens was a United States Supreme Court Justice for 35 years. At his retirement in 2010, he was the third longest serving judge in the history of the Supreme Court. He lived to be 99 years old.

Born in Chicago. Raised in Hyde Park

Alumni:
Northwestern Law School
University of Chicago
University of Chicago Lab School

Retired: 2010

Presidential Medal of Freedom 2012

Veteran: Navy, Lieutenant, WWII, Bronze Star

---

Justice John Paul Stevens Way

 

East Chicago Avenue between Lake Shore Drive and Fairbanks Court

Approved: 2019

Ward: 2
Alderman: Hopkins
Neighborhood: Streeterville

Born April 20, 1920 in Chicago
d. July 16, 2019, Age 99

Near the Northwestern University Law School, Downtown Campus

---

Photo: Steve Petteway, photographer for the US Supreme Court [Public domain]