Former Chicago cop, alderman and Cook County commissioner William “Bill” Beavers, the self-proclaimed “pig with huge balls,” died Saturday morning of pure issues, his spokesman mentioned. He was 89 years previous.
“Today is a tough day for the Beavers household and for many people who revered and appreciated Commissioner Beavers’ friendship and loyalty,” household spokesman Sean Howard mentioned in a press release Sunday. “Bill Beavers will go down in historical past as one of the crucial progressive African-American aldermen on the Chicago City Council. He was unapologetically black and his numerous efforts to get black businessmen concerned in metropolis enterprise and contracting demonstrated this.”
Beavers leaves behind a sophisticated however unapologetic legacy; in 2013, after being sentenced to 6 months in jail on tax evasion costs, he stood within the foyer of Dirksen’s U.S. courthouse, smiled at reporters and, with a attribute fringe of wit, insisted that life was good .
Born and raised within the Kenwood and Oakland neighborhoods, Beavers was one in all six youngsters of his mom, who Howard known as a “revered girl” and an “adoring housewife” with culinary abilities that made her widespread of their native church. Beavers’ father was a metal mill employee who died on the job.
After attending Harold Washington College, he served as a Chicago police officer for over 20 years till he retired and was elected in 1983 as metropolis councilor of the seventh Ward, a place he held till 2006. He was elected Cook County commissioner for the 4th Ward. District, together with elements of Chicago’s South Side and southern suburbs.
During his time as alderman, Beavers was named chairman of the Police and Fire Committee and later the Budget Committee. Howard mentioned one in all Beavers’ best successes was the creation of subcircuit judicial districts that allowed black attorneys to run for judges on the South Side, West Side and southern suburbs of the county.
For the previous 20 years, Howard has had breakfast on daily basis with Beavers and some different political figures.
“These breakfast periods had been traditional in that a lot information, humor and knowledge got here from these extraordinary males,” he recalled. “Commissioner Beavers at all times reminded us of the significance of maintaining our phrase, standing agency in our beliefs, and understanding that authorities belongs to the individuals and to not ourselves.”
Beavers is survived by two daughters and one son: Denice Ewing; Darcel Beavers, former seventh Ward alderman; and David Beavers, a former investigator for the Cook County state’s lawyer’s workplace. He additionally leaves behind his nephew DeJuan Brown and great-niece Dylan Brown.
adperez@chicagotribune.com
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