HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-1992-070-R-9270-R-92
A RESOLUTION
UPON THE DEATH OF BERT WILLARD JOHNSON
WHEREAS, BERT WILLARD JOHNSON departed this life on Saturday, August
•
22, 1992; and
WHEREAS, on November 4, 1952, the voters of the City of
Evanston approved a referendum by a two -to -one margin to change to a
Council -Manager form of government; and
WHEREAS, after a nationwide search and the screening of
157 candidates, Bert Willard Johnson was hired as the City's first
City Manager, taking office on December 1, 1953 and serving until
December 1, 1962, having previously served as the Finance Director
of Winnetka, Illinois, from 1940 to 1948, as City Manager of
Lebanon, Missouri, from 1948 to 1950 and as City Manager of Boulder,
Colorado, from 1950 to 1953; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure as City Manager, the City
improved and protected its shoreline and beaches, instituted a
program to control Dutch elm disease, built the Ridge/Emerson
viaduct, revised and adopted zoning and building codes, built three
new fire stations and Foster Field House, and survived a referendum
to repeal the City Manager form of government by a vote of
two -and -a -half to one; he also served as president of the Illinois
Association of City Managers, and, after leaving Evanston to become
is
County Manager of Arlington, Virginia, served as vice president,
president and on the executive board of the International City
Managers Association; and
WHEREAS, BERT W. JOHNSON served the citizens of the City
of Evanston with distinction, giving most liberally of his time,
energy and ability;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of
the City of Evanston on behalf of itself, the Mayor, the City Clerk,
City Manager, City Officials and the residents of this community,
expresses its heartfelt grief and sense of loss at the passing of
its former colleague and friend, BERT W. JOHNSON.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution be made a part
of the permanent records of the City of Evanston and that a copy,
executed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk, be presented
to the members of his bereaved family.
Mayor
ATTES .
City Clerk
Adopted: September 8, 1992