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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, PIONEERING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MEMORY OF ALICE TREGAY
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay, a treasured heroine of the Civil Rights Movement, a woman whose life was devoted to civil and human rights died at the age of 85 leaving behind countless friends, family and a community profoundly enriched for having known her; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay was born and remained an Evanstonian for most of her life; she and her husband James were treasured pillars of the community. She was legendary in her tireless commitment to her faith; and was an active member and fixture at Ebenezer AME Church in Evanston, serving as an usher; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay shared her commitment to social justice issues very early with her children and in so doing created a family legacy of community service. She was the matriarch of a mighty family who have followed her example and become community leaders themselves. The beneficial impact the Tregay family has had on the region cannot be overstated; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-sixties when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Chicago with other ministers from the Southern Christian Leadership Council, Alice Tregay, her husband James and their children marched alongside them, often at great personal risk. It was at this time that Dr. King joined the Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Reverend James Bevel to form Operation Breadbasket which later became the organization now known and Rainbow Push. Alice will long be remembered for her work at Rainbow Push to end discriminatory hiring practices in corporate America and for initiating the Political Education Division of Rainbow Push. She remained the director of this groundbreaking voter registration effort until her retirement; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay became President and brought new life and energy to the Chicago Children’s Choir, an organization created during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The Chicago Children's Choir is a nonprofit organization committed to peacefully uniting a diverse world through education, musical expression and excellence; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tragay was a forward thinking leader in the housing de-segregation movement, working to help put an end to housing discrimination in Chicago and the suburbs. She was an integral member of the team that exposed realtors who illegally refused to comply with fair housing laws; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay worked tirelessly alongside Al Raby and Dick Gregory; she was a leader in the struggle to end overcrowding and segregation in black schools. She diligently fought the use of “Willis Wagons,” temporary, portable structures placed to relieve overcrowding in those Chicago schools which predominantly served the African American community; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay was a uniquely talented and trusted advisor to the campaigns of many elected officials. She ran the successful judicial campaigns of William Cousins and Abner Mikva and the congressional campaign of Ralph Metcalfe. She was selected to run the Illinois Office for Vice President Walter Mondale when he ran for President. She played a role in the ground-breaking political campaigns of many prominent African American leaders; Mayor Harold Washington, Carol Mosley Braun and the Reverend Jesse Jackson; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay’s life story and substantial accomplishments were legendary and were the subject of a documentary about her life entitled “Alice’s Ordinary People”; and
WHEREAS, Alice Tregay will be mourned by thousands of the lives she touched but will be most acutely felt by and her husband James, her three children: Alice, David and Dawne and her six grandchildren; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of Alice Tregay, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions she has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the family of Alice Tregay.end