Dolton Mayor Dies

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Nov 27, 2008 5:45PM

Dolton Mayor William "Bill" Shaw passed away Wednesday at the age of 71 after a four-year bout with colon cancer. He was Dolton's first black mayor and had a long history in Illinois politics. he was elected the Illinois State Representative of the 34th Legislative District in 1982 where he served five terms. He also served as a state senator for 10 years and was elected mayor of Dolton in 1997. He had previously been hospitalized for the cancer in 2005, shortly after he was elected to a third term in the south suburban city.

During his two decades in the Illinois General Assembly, Shaw served as a member of the Senate Energy & Environment Committee and the Task Force on Electric Deregulation. As a member of the Senate Local Government Committee, Shaw was instrumental in the redevelopment of the Historic Pullman District on Chicago's South Side. Additionally, in 1984, Mayor Shaw along with current Illinois Senate President Emil Jones Jr, co-sponsored groundbreaking legislation with both Illinois House members that made it mandatory that African American History be taught in Illinois public schools. Mayor Shaw also sponsored legislation that created the Illinois Donor Program within the office of the Illinois Secretary of State.

Shaw is survived by his long time companion, Debra Green, three adult children, two grandchildren, his twin brother and former Cook County Commissioner Robert Shaw, his sister Barbara Shaw-Brown and many nieces and nephews.