ALDERMAN STEPHANIE COLEMAN LEAD THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL IN A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ALDERMAN WILLIAM BEAVERS

Photos provided by STH Media LLC
Photos provided by STH Media LLC

ALDERMAN STEPHANIE COLEMAN LEAD THE CHICAGO CITY COUNCIL IN A TRIBUTE TO THE LATE ALDERMAN WILLIAM BEAVERS

 

CURRENT AND FORMER ALDERMEN SPOKE TO THE LIFE, LEGACY, AND SUCCESS OF THE MAN ONCE CONSIDERED THE MOST POWERFUL BLACK ALDERMAN IN CHICAGO

 

“HE MEANT WHAT HE SAID AND SAID WHAT HE MEANT”


WILLIAM BEAVERS --

(February 21, 1935- October 26th, 2024)

 

 

(Chicago, IL) Chicago Aldermanic Black Caucus Chairwoman Alderman Stephanie Coleman will lead her fellow colleagues, Mayor Brandon Johnson and city administrators in an extended tribute to the late Alderman William Beavers. The dedication will take place during the regularly scheduled January 15th, 2025 Chicago City Council meeting.  However, the tribute to Alderman Beavers will begin directly after the opening public comments portion of the meeting which is expected to last thirty minutes.

“Many of us have benefitted from the legacy of compassion in which Alderman Beavers displayed and conducted himself during his very storied political career in Chicago. His contributions to the upward mobility of the African American community is regarded as best in class and is deserving of this tribute from the city council.” says Chairwoman Coleman.

The family of Alderman Beavers will be on hand as well as retired Aldermen who served with Beavers in the city council to provide reflections of the Alderman’s tenure in the city council. Mayor Johnson and the current city council will also pay tribute.

On October 27th, 20224, Chicago area publicist Sean Howard announced the passing of former Chicago 7th Ward Alderman and Cook County Commissioner Bill Beavers. Commissioner Beavers passed away early Saturday morning (10/26/24) from natural complications surrounded by his family. Commissioner Beavers was 89 years of age.

“Today is a difficult day for the Beavers family and for many of us who respected and cherished Commissioner Beavers friendship and loyalty. Bill Beavers will go down in history as one of the most progressive African American Alderman in the Chicago City Council. He was unapologetically Black and proved so by his countless efforts to propel Black businesspersons to engage in city business and contracts. In fact, many of the most successful business persons in our city acknowledge Commissioner Beavers as their primary source of help in successfully doing business with the city of Chicago.” says Sean Howard.

Commissioner Beavers was born and raised in Chicago's Kenwood-Oakland neighborhood, as one of six children. Beavers' mother was a well-respected woman who was an adoring housewife but was more notably an outstanding cook for their local church. Beavers’ father was a steel mill worker who also worked for a wrecking company and died in an accident on the job.

Commissioner Beavers was educated in the Chicago Public School system and attended Harold Washington College. Beavers served as a Chicago Police Officer for over 21 years until his retirement and eventual election to Alderman of the 7th ward in 1983.

Beavers served as Alderman of the 7th ward (1983-2006)and years later was elected as Cook County Commissioner for the 4th district of Cook County, Illinois (2006-2013). His district encompassed parts of Chicago's South Side and southern suburbs. While serving as Alderman, Beavers was appointed Chairman of the Police and Fire Committee and would later be appointed as Chairman of the powerful Budget Committee. He used this platform to promote the city’s outreach to Black businesspersons seeking to engage with the City of Chicago.

“The passing of Commissioner Beavers represents a significant loss for the African American business community. Commissioner Beavers made it possible for Black business owners to have concessions at both Midway and O'hare Airports. He was relentless in his firm approach to former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley of the need for more Black business people engaging in every facet of city government.” says Cook County Democratic Committeeman and Rich Township Supervisor Calvin Jordan.

In 2006, Beavers was very instrumental in the election of Cook County Board President Todd Stroger. In fact, he resigned his seat as 7th ward Alderman and successfully ran for Cook County Commissioner to support Todd Stroger.

One of Commissioner Beavers more profound accomplishments to which many have credited him was the abundance of African American judges, both past and present, currently elected in Cook County. In fact, Beavers, along with former Illinois Senate President Emil Jones, the late Cook County Commissioner Robert Shaw, and the late Illinois State Senator William Shaw work tirelessly in the early 1990s to create sub circuit judicial districts that enabled black lawyers to run for Judge throughout the southside, westside and southern suburbs of Cook County.

Sean Howard adds, “Over the past twenty years I, along with a group of ten other political figures, had the pleasure of eating breakfast daily with Commissioner Beavers as well as the late Commissioner Robert Shaw and the late Senator Willaim Shaw. These breakfast sessions were classic in that so much knowledge, humor and wisdom came from these remarkable men. Commissioner Beavers always reminded us of the importance of keeping your word, standing firm in your beliefs, and knowing that government belongs to the people and not ourselves. While he was one of the most powerful figures in Chicago, he always worked even harder at enhancing the upward mobility of the African American community.

Commissioner Bill Beavers leaves to cherish his two loving daughters to whom he loved dearly, former 7th Ward Alderwoman Darcel Beavers and Denice Ewing, along with his supportive son retired Cook County State's Attorney investigator David Beavers. In addition , Commissioner Beavers leaves his most loving grandson, DeJuan Brown and his beautiful great granddaughter, Dylan Brown.


NOTE--Publicist Sean Howard has been named the appointed Beavers Family Spokesman by former 7th Ward Alderman Darcel Beavers.

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