South Suburban Mayor Celebrates 100-Year-Old Resident With Honorary Street Renaming

During the street renaming celebration, the Mayor of the Village of Dolton, Riley Rogers (right), read part of the resolution presented by the Cook County Board that shared the accomplishments and legacy of Wayne Adams Sr. (left) who recently turned 100 years old. Photo Credit: Village of Dolton
During the street renaming celebration, the Mayor of the Village of Dolton, Riley Rogers (right), read part of the resolution presented by the Cook County Board that shared the accomplishments and legacy of Wayne Adams Sr. (left) who recently turned 100 years old. Photo Credit: Village of Dolton

South Suburban Mayor Celebrates 100-Year-Old Resident With Honorary Street Renaming

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Wayne Adams Sr., also known as The Voice of Raceway Park in Calumet Park, recently turned 100 years old and to honor his legacy, the Mayor of the Village of Dolton, Riley Rogers, renamed Parkside Avenue as Wayne Adams Way. The renaming ceremony was held on Adams’ 100th birthday and several of his family members, south suburban residents, and elected officials came out to celebrate.

For 56 years, Adams has lived in the Village of Dolton and made a name for himself as an announcer at Raceway Park from 1947 through 1989. During that time, he announced over 2000 midget and stock car racing events and was also a writer for the Illustrated Speedway News where he covered racing in the Chicago area.

“I don’t know what to say. This is such an honor and something I never expected. I can only thank the Mayor and the Trustees in Dolton and all my neighbors. We’ve been in Dolton for 56 years and the only thing that bothers me is that I just wish my wife, Grace, were here,” said Adams.

Adams and his wife Grace were married in 1942 and had four children together that they raised in the Village of Dolton. Grace Adams passed away in 2016.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners issued a resolution that detailed Adams’ background including the story of how he and his late wife came to be married, how he was drafted into the military during World War II, became a decorated war veteran, and was inducted into four different racing hall of fame’s for his announcing career at Raceway Park.

During the street renaming ceremony, Mayor Rogers read parts of the Cook County Board’s resolution which stated,“Be it resolved that the President and the members of the Cook County Board of Commissioners proudly honor Mr. Wayne Adams Sr. for his amazing life and career and his service to this county, to the community, and Cook County.”

During the ceremony, Adams pleased the crowd by giving his traditional Raceway Park welcome one more time.

“If you ever arrived at Raceway Park before the races got started you might have heard me say this, ‘good evening ladies and gentlemen this is Wayne Adams welcoming you to Raceway Park the world's busiest track,’” said Adams.

Adams retired from announcing in 1989 and was inducted into the National Old Timers Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 1988, the Grundy County Speedway Hall of Fame in 2004, The Illinois Stock Car Hall of Fame in 2012, and the National Midget Auto Racing Hall of Fame in 2014.

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