Eugene Sawyer

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Eugene Sawyer
44th Mayor of Chicago
Mayor of the City of Chicago
In office 1987 – 1989
Preceded by	David Duvall Orr
Succeeded by	Richard M. Daley

Born	September 3, 1934 Greensboro, Alabama
Political party	Democrat
Residence	Chicago, Illinois

Eugene Sawyer (born: September 3, 1934) is a businessman and former Mayor of Chicago, Illinois (1987-1989) for the Democratic Party. He was the second African American to serve as mayor of Chicago.

Sawyer was born in Greensboro, Alabama and studied at Alabama State University. After graduating, he had a brief stint as a chemistry and math teacher in Prentiss, Mississippi, before moving to Chicago, Illinois to do laboratory work in 1957. Soon after, he began to get involved in politics, becoming the president and financial secretary of the 6th Ward Young Democrats.

In 1971, Sawyer was elected as an alderman of the 6th ward. He continued in the position until 1987 when the sudden death of Harold Washington created a vacancy in the position of mayor. Sawyer was elected mayor by the other members of the city council and took over from interim mayor David Duvall Orr. Sawyer's inauguration occurred in the parking lot of a closed restaurant at 4:01 AM on December 2, 1987.

While Washington's time as mayor was filled with controversy and racial hostility from white conservative and white ethnic voters (and politicians), Sawyer's tenure went much more smoothly. Sawyer managed to pass several major initiatives begun by Washington. These included placing lights in Wrigley Field, an Ethics Ordinance to prevent corruption and one of the first human rights ordinances that protected gays and lesbians from discrimination.

Sawyer was defeated by Richard M. Daley at the 1989 election, and subsequently retired from politics. After retiring, he became involved in the business community once again, and now lives in Chicago with his wife, whom he married in 1995.

Sawyer is a prominent member of Alpha Phi Alpha, the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African Americans.