Eugene Sawyer
Encyclopedia
Eugene Sawyer was an American
businessman and politician who served as Mayor
of Chicago
, Illinois
(1987–1989) as a member of the Democratic Party
. He was the second African American
to serve as mayor of Chicago.
and studied at Alabama State University
. After graduating, he had a brief stint as a chemistry
and math teacher in Prentiss, Mississippi
, before moving to Chicago to do laboratory work in 1957. Soon after, he began to get involved in politics, becoming the president and financial secretary of the 6th Ward Young Democrats.
of the 6th ward. He continued in the position until 1987, when the sudden death of Harold Washington
created a vacancy in the position of mayor. Sawyer was elected mayor by the other members of the city council in a tumultuous and bitter meeting protested by thousands of angry minority and progressive citizens, and took over from interim mayor David Duvall Orr
.
Sawyer's inauguration for mayor occurred in the parking lot of a closed restaurant at North and Bosworth Avenues at 4:01 am on December 2, 1987. The reason for this was to avoid the type of angry demonstration that accompanied his election. Washington's tenure had culminated in the creation of a coalition of minority and progressive council members who were poised to enact a program of reforms when he died unexpectedly. That coalition had chosen another Washington lieutenant, Timothy Evans, to replace him. The opposition, mostly white old-guard conservative machine politicos, convinced Sawyer to oppose Evans, with their backing, and the progressive coalition was broken.
Washington's time as mayor was filled with controversy and racial hostility from white conservative and white ethnic voters, and while Sawyer's tenure went much more smoothly, the cost was significant. Sawyer managed to pass several major initiatives begun by Washington, including placing lights in Wrigley Field
, an Ethics Ordinance to prevent corruption, and one of the first human rights
ordinances that protected gays and lesbians from discrimination
. However, the progressive coalition that had finally ousted the political machine of former mayor Richard J. Daley
was destroyed. Within two years Daley's son, Richard M. Daley
, would be elected to succeed Sawyer, going on to reconstitute his father's organization and dominate Chicago politics for the next twenty-two years.
at the 1989 election, and subsequently retired from politics. After retiring, he became involved in the business community once again. Sawyer was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity.
Sawyer died on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at approximately 11 PM after a series of strokes and other health setbacks over the previous month. Sawyer died just one day after former Cook County Board President John Stroger
, creating a lot of Chicago local news coverage on the passing of both men. Public viewing for Sawyer took place on January 25 and his funeral took place on January 26 followed by burial at Oak Woods Cemetery
, the same cemetery where Harold Washington
is buried.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and politician who served as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(1987–1989) as a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. He was the second African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
to serve as mayor of Chicago.
Early life
Sawyer was born in Greensboro, AlabamaGreensboro, Alabama
Greensboro is a city in Hale County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,731. The city is the county seat of Hale County. It is part of the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
and studied at Alabama State University
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
. After graduating, he had a brief stint as a chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and math teacher in Prentiss, Mississippi
Prentiss, Mississippi
Prentiss is a town in Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,158 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Jefferson Davis County...
, before moving to Chicago to do laboratory work in 1957. Soon after, he began to get involved in politics, becoming the president and financial secretary of the 6th Ward Young Democrats.
Alderman and Mayor
In 1971, Sawyer was elected as an aldermanChicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
of the 6th ward. He continued in the position until 1987, when the sudden death of Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :...
created a vacancy in the position of mayor. Sawyer was elected mayor by the other members of the city council in a tumultuous and bitter meeting protested by thousands of angry minority and progressive citizens, and took over from interim mayor David Duvall Orr
David Duvall Orr
David Duvall Orr is an American Democratic politician from Chicago, Illinois. He was Alderman of the 49th Ward in Chicago from 1979 to 1991. In 1987, he served briefly as Mayor of Chicago after the death of Mayor Harold Washington. Since 1991, he has been County Clerk of Cook County...
.
Sawyer's inauguration for mayor occurred in the parking lot of a closed restaurant at North and Bosworth Avenues at 4:01 am on December 2, 1987. The reason for this was to avoid the type of angry demonstration that accompanied his election. Washington's tenure had culminated in the creation of a coalition of minority and progressive council members who were poised to enact a program of reforms when he died unexpectedly. That coalition had chosen another Washington lieutenant, Timothy Evans, to replace him. The opposition, mostly white old-guard conservative machine politicos, convinced Sawyer to oppose Evans, with their backing, and the progressive coalition was broken.
Washington's time as mayor was filled with controversy and racial hostility from white conservative and white ethnic voters, and while Sawyer's tenure went much more smoothly, the cost was significant. Sawyer managed to pass several major initiatives begun by Washington, including placing lights in Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, an Ethics Ordinance to prevent corruption, and one of the first human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
ordinances that protected gays and lesbians from discrimination
Discrimination
Discrimination is the prejudicial treatment of an individual based on their membership in a certain group or category. It involves the actual behaviors towards groups such as excluding or restricting members of one group from opportunities that are available to another group. The term began to be...
. However, the progressive coalition that had finally ousted the political machine of former mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
was destroyed. Within two years Daley's son, Richard M. Daley
Richard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
, would be elected to succeed Sawyer, going on to reconstitute his father's organization and dominate Chicago politics for the next twenty-two years.
Retirement from politics and death
Sawyer was defeated by Richard M. DaleyRichard M. Daley
Richard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party, and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. He was the longest serving Chicago mayor, surpassing the tenure of his...
at the 1989 election, and subsequently retired from politics. After retiring, he became involved in the business community once again. Sawyer was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity.
Sawyer died on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at approximately 11 PM after a series of strokes and other health setbacks over the previous month. Sawyer died just one day after former Cook County Board President John Stroger
John Stroger
John H. Stroger, Jr. was an American politician who served from 1994 until 2006 as the first African-American president of the Cook County, Illinois Board of Commissioners. Stroger was a member of the Democratic Party. He was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity...
, creating a lot of Chicago local news coverage on the passing of both men. Public viewing for Sawyer took place on January 25 and his funeral took place on January 26 followed by burial at Oak Woods Cemetery
Oak Woods Cemetery
Oak Woods Cemetery was established in 1854; it covers an area of and is located at 1035 E. 67th Street in Chicago. The first burials took place in 1860. Soon after the American Civil War, between four and six thousand Confederate soldiers, prisoners who died at Camp Douglas, were buried here...
, the same cemetery where Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :...
is buried.