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Chicago's honorary brown street signs, days, and commemorative honors; the who, what, where, when and why.  Honorary Chicago guide book, maps, biographies, history, trivia, tours, and gifts.

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Class of 2021 by Honorary Chicago

Linda Zabors

At the close of 2021 the United States has marked 800,000 deaths from the COVID virus. Several of this years honored were among those who succumbed to the virus or to the violent and desperate circumstances fomented by the virus.

Veterans

Bruno Roti
Ed Negron
Kurt Krueger
Lucius Hall

First responders

Bobby Herrera
Guadalupe Lopez
Harold Bone
Jeff Troglia
Michael Specialle

COVID deaths

Betty Resnikoff
Carlos Rosas
Guadalupe and Maria Lopez
Juan Suarez
Lucius Hall
Olga Quiroga
Raul Montes

Clergy and places of worship

Archbishop Lucius Hall
Body of Christ Deliverance Ministries
Our Lady of Victory
Presiding Elder Albert D. Tyson, III
Saint Thecla
Sister Patty Fillenwarth

City employees

Lemuel Austin, Jr *
Raul Montes
Paul Ready
Yuleander YOLO 150 Seals *

Educators

Betty Reskinoff
Olga Quiroga

Social Services

Ed Negron
Jerry Torry
Kidz Korna
Phillip Jackson

Sports and Entertainment

Jack Rosenberg

Music and the Arts

“Majic” Juan Suarez

Local shops

Bruno Roti
Carlos Rosas
Dan O’Donnell
James F. Graziano

* indicates honoree died in the line of duty

please let us know if we have missed any individuals who belong in these sub-totals

 
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tags 2021

Class of 2019 by Honorary Chicago

Linda Zabors

At the close of 2019, here is our tally of new honorary signs. There were 21 new honorary streets designated in Chicago this year.

2019

ANTONIO PASIN WAY

APOSTLE CORNELIUS PARKER, SR. WAY

BUDDY WILLIAMS LANE

DEBRA GAURIGE WAY

DOUBLE BUBBLE WAY

ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE WAY

FR. LARRY DURIS WAY

JOHN NOVI WAY

JONATHAN BUNGE WAY

JOSEPH F. FERGUSON WAY

JUSTICE JOHN PAUL STEVENS WAY

KENNETH ‘BUTCH’ CAMPBELL WAY

MARGE BRITTON WAY

MARTHA RAMOS WAY

MILTON I. SHADUR WAY

PASTOR VICTOR H RODRIGUEZ WAY

PLUMBERS CAMPUS

PRINCIPAL MICHELLE L. VAN ALLEN WAY

RONALD LUCIUS SALAZAR WAY

SAM FRANCO WAY


Comparison to 2018. The qualification rules for honorary streets changed as of February 2017

For information on wards and approvals by month see our 2019 annual page.

Veterans

Jonathan Bunge (Army)
Justice John Paul Stevens (Navy)

First responders and military

Police Officer Joseph F. Ferguson *

Clergy and places of worship

Apostle Cornelius Parker Sr.
Bishop G.W.C. Walker, Sr.
Pastor Victor Rodriguez
Father Larry Duris

City employees

Ronald Lucius Salazar
Martha Ramos

Educators

Principal Michelle L. Van Allen
Plumbers Campus

Social Services

Erie Neighborhood House

Music and the Arts

Sam Franco

Local shops

Double Bubble
Plumbers Campus
Antonio Pasin (Radio Flyer)
John Novi

* indicates honoree died in the line of duty

please let us know if we have missed any individuals who belong in these sub-totals

 
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categories update
tags 2019

Class of 2018 by Honorary Chicago

Linda Zabors

As we close out 2018, here is our tally of new honorary signs. There were 33 new honorary streets designated in Chicago this year.

2018

ANTHONY J. PAPPALAS AVE

BETTY HAYNES WAY

BIELSKO-BIALA WAY

CARMIE SHOES WAY

CHARLES J. BARANGO WAY

CHRIST TEMPLE CATHEDRAL WAY

CHUCK RENSLOW WAY

CLIFTON P. LEWIS WAY

DORIS IVY WAY

EUGENE LANG WAY

FF STEVE MCNAMEE WAY

GORALE PODHALANSCY WAY

HENRY L. COLEMAN, SR. WAY

IRMA AND WILLIE PICKENS WAY

ISABEL LOPEZ WAY

IDA B. WELLS WAY**

INEZ LOREDO STREET

JADWIGA KACZYNSKA WAY

JAMES "JIMMY" TAVOLINO WAY

JEANNE UZDAWINIS WAY

JERRY KEHOE WAY

JOSEPH MUNTANER WAY

MAJOR GARY HUGHES WAY

MARGARET HARTIGAN WAY

MARTIN AND THERESA CAMPO WAY

MICHAEL ISAAC GREEN WAY

LT. HAROLD A. BEZAZIAN WAY

OFFICER BARRY D. BATSON SR. WAY

PASTOR HENRIETTA W. ROBINSON WAY

REV. MALACHI G. BAKER, JR. WAY

ROBERT L. MYERS WAY

TILLIE RYBAK WAY

TONY'S DELI WAY


This total is down from 41 new designations in 2017. The qualification rules for honorary streets were changed as of February 2017

For information on wards and approvals by month see our 2018 annual page.

Veterans

Major Gary Hughes (Army: Operation Desert Storm. Iraq, Afghanistan)
Lieutenant Harold Bezazian (Army: WWII. Phillipines)*

First responders and military

Barry Batson
Harold Bazazian*
Gary Hughes
Steve McNamee*

Clergy

Reverend Baker
Pastor Robinson
Christ Temple Cathedral

City employees and elected officials

Robert Myers

LGBTQ

Chuck Renslow

Children and Youth

Anthony Pappalas

Local shops

Carmie Shoes
Tony’s Deli

* indicates honoree died in the line of duty

please let us know if we have missed any individuals who belong in these sub-totals

 

Honorary Ida B. Wells Way and Ida B. Wells Drive

Perhaps the most famous honoree this year is a historical Chicago figure, Ida B. Wells-Barnett. She was an African-American investigative reporter and researcher who used data to expose inequity and violence in Memphis, fought racial discrimination on trains in local and federal courts, and boycotted the 1893 Columbian Exhibition in Chicago.

Note: The official Wells Street in Chicago is not named for Ida Wells; it is named for Captain William Wells, who was an officer who died in battle at Fort Dearborn in early Chicago history.

** Honorary Ida B. Wells Way was designated as a portion of 37th Street. Later in 2018 the east most portion of Congress Parkway was officially renamed Ida B. Wells Drive.

 
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categories update
tags 2018

Honorary Chicago New Signs Class of 2017

Linda Zabors

Annual report of the newly designated brown honorary signs in Chicago for the year 2017

There were 41 new honorary signs in 2017, this is down from 85 in 2016

A landmark change to the qualifications significantly reduced the number of honorees from 2017 forward.  This change took effect after the February 2017 Chicago City Council meeting.

List is alphabetical by first name OR title AS IT appearS THE on sign

Class of 2017

ALEKO KONSTANTINOV WAY

AVENIDA CARMEN ESCARZAGA

BLAIR DELANE HOLT

COACH KIRK VIDAS WAY

DEE JAY RODRIGUEZ WAY

DONALD SANSONE

DOUG BOSTIC

DR. EDWARD & MILDRED CRUZAT WAY

DR. LORRAINE R. BROYLS WAY

EDWARD G. IRVIN

ESTHER GOLAR WAY

FF BILL GRANT WAY 

FRED SAUFNAUER WAY

GEORGE 'POPPIE' BLACK, SR. WAY

HONORABLE CLARK BURRUS WAY

JAVIER 'JAVY' BAEZ WAY

JOE MANTEGNA WAY

K9S FOR VETERANS WAY

KEVIN RYAN WAY

LUCY GONZALEZ PARSONS WAY

MARTHA LAVEY

MICHAEL 'DYKO' PRESBITERO

MIGUEL SUAREZ 

MONSIGNOR DOLAN DRIVE

OFFICER MICHAEL FLISK AVENUE

OSCAR LOPEZ RIVERA WAY

PASTOR EARL GRANDBERRY, SR. WAY

PETER J. MARTINEZ WAY

P.F.C. JOSEPH M. SCHALLMOSER

PHIL JONES

PHILIP O. COLEMAN

POWISLE DABROWSKIE WAY

ST. MADELEINE SOPHIE

STEVE LOMBARDO WAY

TEMPLE SHOLOM WAY

THE SELFHELP HOME

THERESA M. PETTY-PHILPOT WAY

VINCE GAVIN WAY

WALTER L. WILLIAMS

ZIEMIA MONIECKA WAY

ZIEMIA PODHALANSKA

 

And in other Honorary Chicago news...

DEDICATION OF HORSE OF HONOR PUBLIC ART MEMORIAL TO FALLEN POLICE OFFICER DANIEL E. HOWARD

 

Comment
categories update, street
tags Honorary Brown Sign, Honorary Street, 2017

New Honorary Signs - May 2017

Linda Zabors

Three new honorary streets were approved in Chicago this month

Honorable Clark Burrus Way

Ward: 42
Alderman: Reilly
Neighborhood: Loop

Mr Burrus was the comptroller for the City of Chicago in the 1970s  and had a remarkable career in finance. (more...)

 

Dr. Lorraine R. Broyls Way

Ward: 34
Alderman: Austin
Neighborhood: Beverly

Dr. Broyles is the founder and CEO of Universal Family Connection (UFC), a group dedicated to providing comprehensive social services to the community. (more...)

 

Blair Delane Holt Way

Ward: 34
Alderman: Austin
Neighborhood: Washington Heights

A high school student who was killed while shielding his classmates from gunfire.

The sign dedication marked the 10th anniversary of his death. (more...)

 

24 New Honorary Streets as of May 2017

Source: Journal of the Chicago City Council. analysis: Honorary Chicago
 

Note: in February 2017 the rules changed.  Going forward each ward is only allowed 2 new honorary signs per year. 

Comment
categories update
tags 2017

New Rules for New Honorary Signs in Chicago after February 2017

Linda Zabors

In the February 2017 Chicago City Council meeting strict restrictions were made to the 1984 ordinance which set forth the process of dedicating an honorary street in Chicago.

 

The changes are as follows:

  • Each ward is limited to 2 new honorary street designations per year

  • The cost of the honorary sign production, installation, and removal will be paid by the Ward

  • Each new honorary street will be marked by only 2 honorary signs

  • Signs can only be installed on an existing sign post

  • No honorary designations can share the same segment of street

  • The proposal must contain a map of the blocks to be dedicated (minimum 2 continuous blocks on the same street)

  • Living people are not eligible for honorary streets

  • The honorary street name cannot be the same as an official street

  • The proposal must contain the biography and reason for the the dedication and the name cannot be

  • If the proposal is rejected the named party cannot be reconsidered for one year

  • Designations expire after 5-years (renewable for an additional 5-years) after which the sign is to be removed

 
 

After

  • 2 new honorary street designations per Ward per year regardless of the geographic size or population of the Ward

  • Street segments are exclusive to a single designation

  • The honored individual must be dead

  • Signs are limited to a renewable 5-year term

Before

  • Unrestricted number of signs and designations bestowed

  • Multiple honorary designations allowed per location

  • Installed for an indefinite length of time

  • Opaque qualifications for selection

  • People can be honored during their lifetime

 

With the new restrictions the City will have a maximum of 100 new honorary streets per year (50 Wards allowed 2 new honorary designations each).

Editors note:
In 2016 there were 85 new honorary street designations
15 wards had more than 2
16 wards had zero

The 5-year expiration date applies to existing signs

Process for approval and FAQ

Source: City Ordinance, February 22, 2017

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