Lorraine H. Morton
Lorraine H. Morton | |
---|---|
19th Joan W. Barr | |
Succeeded by | Elizabeth Tisdahl |
Personal details | |
Born | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. | December 8, 1918
Died | September 8, 2018 Skokie, Illinois, U.S. | (aged 99)
Political party | Democratic |
Education | B.A. Winston-Salem State University M.A. Northwestern University |
Lorraine Hairston Morton (December 8, 1918 – September 8, 2018) was an American politician who was the mayor of Evanston, Illinois, from 1993 to 2009.[1][2] Morton was Evanston's first African-American mayor, first Democratic mayor, and longest-serving mayor. She is also notable for spearheading the desegregation of Evanston's public schools as a teacher and school principal.[2][3][4]
Early life
Morton was born in
Teaching career
Prior to her experience in municipal government, Morton was an educator in the
Municipal career
Alderman of the Fifth Ward
Morton continued her long career of community service and public engagement when she agreed to serve as alderman of the Fifth Ward of Evanston,[11] an Evanston City Council position she held from 1982 to 1991. As a member of the Evanston City Council, she served in committees on Housing and Community Development, Police Services, Planning and Development, Human Services, and Rules, as well as on the Unified Budget Panel. She also worked on special committees on fair housing, libraries, and gangs.[10]
Mayor of Evanston
In 1993, Morton ran for mayor of Evanston under the campaign slogan "Morton for Mayor," which accompanied images of trains and lists of people who were "on board" with her campaign. After a run-off election against Ann Rainey, alderman of Evanston's Eighth Ward, Morton was elected Evanston's first African-American and first Democratic mayor.[12][13] She was in office for sixteen years (until 2009), becoming Evanston's longest-serving mayor.[14]
During her long mayoral tenure, Morton attempted to improve the town-gown relationship between Northwestern University and the greater population of Evanston. She was able to form a close friendship with Northwestern University president Henry Bienen and ameliorate the tension between Evanston and the University given her status as both the Mayor of Evanston and a proud alumna of Northwestern.[15]
Mayor Morton also worked with local community leaders and churches to create a safe zone and a "time out" period of time that gangs would call a truce. During this time, (Friday and Saturday nights, a time of would-be heightened gang activity) the community, including gang members were invited to play basketball at Evanston's Robert Crown Center. Morton would often be seen cheering from the sidelines
Awards and honors
Both of her alma maters have recognized Morton's achievements. Winston-Salem State University created the Lorraine Hairston Morton Endowed Scholarship in 2010 for students majoring in education who are committed to community service.
Evanston's civic center was renamed for Morton at the time of her retirement in 2009 and is now known as the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center.[19] She held the position of Vice President of the Evanston Historical Society and received community service awards from Saint Francis Hospital of Evanston and the Evanston Arts Council.[20]
In 2018, Shorefront (http://shorefrontlegacy.org) produced the documentary film "Lorraine H. Morton: A Life Worthwhile", (https://vimeo.com/252383973) as told by Morton herself, illustrated with historic images and film clips. The 45 minute documentary depicts her early life, education, early career as a teacher, alderman and as mayor of Evanston.
Death
Morton died on September 8, 2018, at the age of 99.[19]
Notes
- ^ a b c City of Evanston official bio of Mayor Lorraine H. Morton (December 2007)
- ^ a b City of Evanston official bio of Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl Archived 2007-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c "Mayor Morton Reflects on Legacy of Her Tenure"
- ^ "Lorraine Morton Longest Serving Mayor and First Black Teacher in Public School System"
- ^ Northwestern University Archives, Lorraine H. Morton Papers, Box 1, "General Biographical Information". Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ "Brief Biographies". psychology.okstate.edu. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ Hilkevitch, Jon. "EVANSTON'S NEW MAYOR SEEKS UNITY". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
- ^ A History of Foster School and Desegregation in School District 65
- ^ Northwestern University Archives, Lorraine H. Morton Papers. Retrieved July 16, 2013.
- ^ a b "Guide to the Lorraine H. Morton (1918- ) Papers, 1942-2014". Explore Chicago Collections. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Map of Wards and Precincts of Evanston
- ^ "Democrat Morton Wins In Evanston"
- ^ "Evanston's New Mayor Seeks Unity"
- ^ "Lorraine Morton, Longest Serving Mayor Of Evanston, Dies At 99". Evanston, IL Patch. 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ Writer, J. Linn Allen, Tribune Higher Education. "NU CELEBRATES LANDMARK BIRTHDAY". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2019-06-03.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b Scholarship Established at WSSU to Honor Retired Mayor Lorraine Morton
- ^ List of SESP Sponsored Scholarships
- ^ "Northwestern University List of Honorary Degree Recipients". Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2013-07-16.
- ^ a b "Lorraine H. Morton dies; Evanston's first black mayor and longest-serving mayor". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2018-09-10.
- ^ "Saint Francis Hospital Honors Evanston Mayor Lorraine H. Morton — Evanston news, photos and events — TribLocal.com". TribLocal. Archived from the original on 2008-05-05. Retrieved 2019-06-03.