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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING HOMER GARY
WHEREAS, Homer Gary is a native of Phoenix City, Alabama, where he graduated from high school; and
WHEREAS, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Alabama State University before joining the Army, and returned to receive a Master of Science in Management of Public Services from DePaul; and
WHEREAS, Homer Gary spent almost four years stationed in Germany, where he was a Medical Corpsman, assisting doctors in various emergency operations; and
WHEREAS, he moved to Chicago in August 1964 and his first job was a Social Studies and Music teacher; and
WHEREAS, among his students during his stint as a teacher were the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) Ronald Brown and George Anderson, who was in eighth grade at the time and remembers Homer as a nice and cool fella; and
WHEREAS, after that Homer went to work for the Chicago Transit Authority. That’s when a friend who worked at the Chicago Housing Authority encouraged him to apply for the position of Community and Internal Relations Aide in the Tenant Relations Department.
WHEREAS, his friend told him that the Chicago Housing Authority needed a person like him, he thought about it and applied for the job; and
WHEREAS, he got the job and started work on October 10th 1966, and nineteen day later he married his wife Yvette and has been with them both for 51 years; and
WHEREAS, while at the Chicago Housing Authority Homer worked in three different departments, he served as a Management Aide, Building Inspector and Building Inspector Supervisor; and
WHEREAS, Homer has seen the Chicago Housing Authority at its worst, and at its best. When crime has ran rampant, when buildings were infested with rats, elevators didn’t work and the buildings didn’t have any heat; and
WHEREAS, he has also seen improvement come at a break neck pace. He says he admires the Chicago Housing Authority’s effort in making public housing better; and
WHEREAS, Homer worked at Cabrini Green housing in 1970, and was recognized regularly by residents and officials for effectively handling acute situations involving residents under tense circumstances; and
WHEREAS, Homer was known for promoting peace and tranquility; and
WHEREAS, seeing roughly fifteen Chief Executive Officers (CEO) in his 51 years, his favorites are Terry Peterson and Eugene Jones, Jr. which he liked their personalities and their personal contact with people; and
WHEREAS, Homer served as a mentor for many current Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) employees, including his current Supervisor Bryce White; and
WHEREAS, Bryce White said he views Homer as a father figure, dedicated, passionate about helping others achieve their goals; and
WHEREAS, on October 1, 2017 after 51 years with the Chicago Housing Authority, Homer will retire as a Relocation Specialist in the Resident Service Division; and
WHEREAS, Homer is a member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 73; and
WHEREAS, on retirement, he said the timing is good, states that the Chicago Housing Authority has been good to him, and there are things he would like to do with his wife Yvette whom he calls a “sweet wife” and his daughter, Celeste.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the President and Members of the Board of Commissioners, on behalf of more than 5.2 million residents of Cook County, do hereby congratulate Homer Gary on his retirement.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceeding of this Honorable Body to Home Gary.
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