05-08-2018, 05:54 AM
Pioneering black politician of Chicago:
Pioneering former Alderman Wilson Frost died Saturday in southern California at the age of 92.
Frost, born in downstate Cairo on Dec, 27, 1925, rose to prominence as a key African-American figure in Chicago’s City Council. He died in his adopted hometown of Palm Desert, according to Ald. Carrie Austin (34th).
After graduating from Fisk University in Nashville and Chicago-Kent College of Law, Frost was elected alderman of the 21st Ward in 1967. Four years later, he won an election to become alderman of the 34th Ward, a position he held until 1987. He later served on the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals until 1998. The Democrat is perhaps best known for declaring himself the city’s acting mayor when Richard J. Daley died in December 1976. Frost, who was serving as president pro tempore of the city council, based the move on his own interpretation of the city charter.
Following nearly a weeklong power struggle, during which Frost was locked out of the mayor’s office, the city council rebuffed Frost’s claim and appointed Michael Bilandic, then the 11th Ward alderman, as mayor. Had Frost’s reading of the city charter been upheld, he would have become the city’s first black mayor.
A group of black leaders, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, urged Frost to claim the mayorship after Daley’s death. Jackson, who was caught off guard by the news Frost had died, called him a “critical, smart and caring” leader, noting he had the skills to be the city’s mayor.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
Pioneering former Alderman Wilson Frost died Saturday in southern California at the age of 92.
Frost, born in downstate Cairo on Dec, 27, 1925, rose to prominence as a key African-American figure in Chicago’s City Council. He died in his adopted hometown of Palm Desert, according to Ald. Carrie Austin (34th).
After graduating from Fisk University in Nashville and Chicago-Kent College of Law, Frost was elected alderman of the 21st Ward in 1967. Four years later, he won an election to become alderman of the 34th Ward, a position he held until 1987. He later served on the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals until 1998. The Democrat is perhaps best known for declaring himself the city’s acting mayor when Richard J. Daley died in December 1976. Frost, who was serving as president pro tempore of the city council, based the move on his own interpretation of the city charter.
Following nearly a weeklong power struggle, during which Frost was locked out of the mayor’s office, the city council rebuffed Frost’s claim and appointed Michael Bilandic, then the 11th Ward alderman, as mayor. Had Frost’s reading of the city charter been upheld, he would have become the city’s first black mayor.
A group of black leaders, including Rev. Jesse Jackson, urged Frost to claim the mayorship after Daley’s death. Jackson, who was caught off guard by the news Frost had died, called him a “critical, smart and caring” leader, noting he had the skills to be the city’s mayor.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
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