Gus Savage

Congressman Gus Savage represented the 2nd Congressional District of Illinois from 1981 to 1993 (97th-102nd Congresses). Savage was a veteran, civil rights activist, and pioneering African American journalist and publisher before becoming involved in local politics in Chicago and winning election to Congress. During his six terms in Congress, Savage served on the Post Office and Civil Service, Public Works and Transportation, and Small Business committees. He chaired the Public Works and Transportation Subcommittee on Economic Development during the 101st and 102nd Congresses (1989-1993). Savage’s primary concerns were advancing the civil rights of African Americans, often speaking out on Congress’s record on Civil Rights. In one of his final acts as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds, Savage leveraged his reputation as a national political figure to bring attention to the importance of the African Burial Ground in New York City. The site was eventually designated a National Historic Landmark in 1993 and a National Monument in 2006 by President George W. Bush. Savage earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Roosevelt University and a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law.