Eugene Sawyer
| Eugene Sawyer | |
|---|---|
Sawyer official Mayor of Chicago portrait, 1987.
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| 42nd Mayor of Chicago | |
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In office December 2, 1987 – April 24, 1989 |
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| Preceded by | David Duvall Orr (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Richard M. Daley |
| City of Chicago Alderman | |
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In office February 28, 1971 – December 2, 1987 |
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| Constituency | 6th Ward, Chicago |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
September 3, 1934 Greensboro, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 2008 (aged 73) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Complications from a stroke |
| Resting place |
Oak Woods Cemetery Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Veronica E. Smith (m. 1996–2008) |
| Children |
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| Alma mater | Alabama State University |
| Religion | Protestant |
Eugene Sawyer Jr. (September 3, 1934 – January 19, 2008) was an American businessman, educator, and politician. Sawyer was selected as the 42nd Mayor of Chicago, Illinois after the sudden death of then–mayor Harold Washington, Serving from December 2, 1987 until April 24, 1989. Sawyer was the second African-American to serve as mayor of Chicago. Sawyer was a member of the Democratic Party.
Born to Bernice and Eugene Sawyer Sr. in Greensboro, Alabama, the oldest of six children; Sawyer spent summer vacations in Chicago with his aunt during his childhood. After high school, Sawyer began studying at Alabama State University, where he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. During college, Sawyer served as security for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. along with his fraternity during the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955. After graduating with his bachelor's degree in high school education, Sawyer had a brief stint as a chemistry and mathematics teacher in Prentiss, Mississippi; before moving to Chicago to do laboratory work in 1957. Shortly after moving to Chicago, Sawyer took a job in Chicago’s Department of Water, where he worked from 1959 until 1971. While working for the city's water department, Sawyer became involved with the Six Ward Regular Democratic organization and the Young Democrats (YD) through family friends; becoming the organization president and financial secretary in October 1968.
In February 1971, Sawyer was elected Alderman of Chicago's 6th Ward. By 1987, he was the longest-serving black alderman on the Chicago City Council, when the sudden death of Harold Washington created a vacancy in the position of mayor. During Washington's tenure, a coalition of Regular Democratic and independent Democratic aldermen enacted reforms. Washington's supporters in the city council divided, supporting Aldermen Sawyer and Timothy C. Evans for mayor. The City Council elected Sawyer mayor in a tumultuous and lengthy meeting.
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