Thomas G Ayers, 1915-2007
My grandfather passed away last week. As one of my uncles noted, it was sad but not tragic -- he was 92, had lived a full life, and was declining in health.
There were some news articles published about him, which I include below. Rest in peace, Grandpa.
-----------------------------------
Utility executive led civic, racial initiatives
Former Commonwealth Edison chief helped develop Dearborn Park and pushed for an end to housing discrimination against blacks
By Jo Napolitano
Tribune staff reporter
June 12, 2007
Thomas G. Ayers, a longtime civic and business leader, had a vision for Chicago's urban landscape and its minority communities.
In addition to serving as the chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison in the 1970s, he was a major force in the development of the area just south of the Loop known as Dearborn Park.
He also was an advocate of fair housing and equal opportunity for women and minorities.
His son William Ayers was once the leader of the radical Weather Underground, formed amid the tumult of the Vietnam War and responsible for a series of bombings in the 1970s.
William Ayers, separated from his family during 11 years as a federal fugitive, said his father did not turn his back on him.
"He understood more than most the anger and frustration young people felt about that endless war," said Ayers. "He really admired and loved all of his kids."
Mr. Ayers, 92, died of congestive heart failure Friday, June 8, at home in Hyde Park, his family said. He was battling Parkinson's disease but was talking up until the day before he died. He spent the last three years living with his once-estranged son and died surrounded by family.
"We were unanimous in the desire to have him close to us," William Ayers said. "It was very special. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Mr. Ayers headed Commonwealth Edison for seven years, ending in 1980.
Before assuming the top job, he helped negotiate the first labor contract between the energy giant and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
He served on many boards, including that of G.D. Searle, Chicago Pacific Corp., Zenith Corp., Northwest Industries, First National Bank of Chicago and Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune, his family said.
He also worked with many nonprofits, serving as the chair of the Chicago Urban League, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chicago United, Community Renewal Society and the Chicago Community Trust.
Respected by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Mayor Richard J. Daley and the business community, he worked with all sides in an effort to curb housing discrimination, his family said.
James O'Connor, former chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison and its former parent company, Unicom, said Mr. Ayers had an impact on Chicago unmatched by businessmen of the era."He had an extraordinary social conscience," O'Connor said. "He was willing to step into situations where very few people were willing to risk their reputation. He had total courage and never seemed to weigh the consequences of that sort of activity. He never did anything for applause or for any sort of recognition."
O'Connor said Mr. Ayers was devoted to hiring and promoting women and minorities within Commonwealth Edison. He was often called upon to build consensus on sensitive topics.
"He was able to bring people together, which was why he was so often asked to be the head of different organizations and teams," O'Connor said.
Mr. Ayers saw potential where few others did. Standing in his office in the early 1970s and looking out onto the railroad yard near the Loop, he believed that the right type of development would draw people to the area.
Critics dismissed the idea, but in the years since then the South Loop has become among the city's more vibrant neighborhoods.
Although he was born in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan, Mr. Ayers was a staunch supporter of Northwestern University.
He was chair of the school's board of trustees for 10 years, and a university building bears his name.
"He was a guy of great intelligence and integrity, and he was willing to put the time in as well," former NU president Arnold Weber said.
"Those offices are not just honorary or for social distinction."
Equally important to Mr. Ayers was the educational and financial advancement of African-Americans.
"He felt the black community's success was key to Chicago's success,"
son John Ayers said. "He pushed business people to be more open in the 1960s."
John Ayers described his father as a "wonderful and generous man."
"In the '60s and '70s, we went through some rough patches in our family," he said. "He was very sweet and supportive of us all. He used to say, 'It takes all kinds' to get the world moving forward."
When William Ayers resurfaced in the 1980s, it was as though no time had passed between him and his father.
"It was as if we were in the middle of a conversation and nothing much had changed," William Ayers said.
In addition to sons William and John, Mr. Ayers is survived by a daughter, Catherine Allen; two other sons, Thomas G. Ayers Jr. and Richard; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
His wife, Mary, died in 2000.
Copyright (c) 2007, Chicago Tribune
-----------------------------------------
Former ComEd CEO
June 12, 2007
BY CHERYL V. JACKSON Staff Reporter Sun Times
Former Commonwealth Edison Chairman and CEO Tom Ayers was many men -- a prominent player in the cultural, social and economic advancements of Chicago.
He was the Chicago establishment, serving on the boards of Sears, G.D. Searle, Chicago Pacific Corp., Zenith Corp., Northwest Industries, General Dynamics Corp. of St. Louis, First National Bank of Chicago, the Chicago Cubs and the Tribune Co.
Mr. Ayers also was an agent for change, negotiating between Mayor Richard J. Daley's administration and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s open housing campaign in the mid-1960s, and developing the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities to fight racial discrimination in housing.
He was a buddy to his five children. Each of his sons called him by his first name.
"Since we've been adults, we've always called him Tom," said son John Ayers. "I guess it's because we're very close to him. We think of him as a friend."
Mr. Ayers died at his Hyde Park home Friday of congestive heart failure. He was 92.
Mr. Ayers, a Detroit native and University of Michigan alumni, married Mary Andrew in 1938, the year he moved to Chicago.
'He believed in change'
His entire career was spent at some aspect of Commonwealth Edison, of which he became president in 1964 and served as chairman and CEO from 1973 to 1980. He was the architect of ComEd's nuclear power program in the 1960s and 1970s.
"He had a great social conscience and believed in breaking down the barriers that confronted so many people, particularly minorities and women," said James O'Connor, who succeeded Mr. Ayers as ComEd chairman. "Beyond what he did at Commonwealth Edison, he really set an example for other leaders in the Chicagoland business community to follow."
Mr. Ayers also served on boards of nonprofit initiatives and chaired those of the Chicago Urban League, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erikson Institute, Bank Street College of Education in New York, Community Renewal Society and the Chicago Community Trust.
While chairing the Northwestern University Board of Trustees, he helped start Chicago United, dedicated to racial minority group access to jobs and education. The project that made him most proud, son John Ayers said, was Dearborn Park, an integrated South Loop housing project, which he conceived and for which he raised funds.
With his sons deep in protest of the Vietnam War (one, Bill Ayers, was a member of the radical Students for a Democratic Society who went underground for about 11 years) the businessman supported his children and their campaign. "Our father always stood by us," John Ayers said. "He was an establishment guy, but he believed in us. He believed in change."
After the Board of Education's financial collapse of 1979, Mayor Jane M. Byrne named Mr. Ayers as her choice for president of the new board..
Mr. Ayers' wife died earlier. In addition to sons John and Bill, he also is survived by sons Tim and Richard; his daughter, Catherine Allen; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Chicago Sun-Times
There were some news articles published about him, which I include below. Rest in peace, Grandpa.
-----------------------------------
Utility executive led civic, racial initiatives
Former Commonwealth Edison chief helped develop Dearborn Park and pushed for an end to housing discrimination against blacks
By Jo Napolitano
Tribune staff reporter
June 12, 2007
Thomas G. Ayers, a longtime civic and business leader, had a vision for Chicago's urban landscape and its minority communities.
In addition to serving as the chairman and chief executive officer of Commonwealth Edison in the 1970s, he was a major force in the development of the area just south of the Loop known as Dearborn Park.
He also was an advocate of fair housing and equal opportunity for women and minorities.
His son William Ayers was once the leader of the radical Weather Underground, formed amid the tumult of the Vietnam War and responsible for a series of bombings in the 1970s.
William Ayers, separated from his family during 11 years as a federal fugitive, said his father did not turn his back on him.
"He understood more than most the anger and frustration young people felt about that endless war," said Ayers. "He really admired and loved all of his kids."
Mr. Ayers, 92, died of congestive heart failure Friday, June 8, at home in Hyde Park, his family said. He was battling Parkinson's disease but was talking up until the day before he died. He spent the last three years living with his once-estranged son and died surrounded by family.
"We were unanimous in the desire to have him close to us," William Ayers said. "It was very special. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Mr. Ayers headed Commonwealth Edison for seven years, ending in 1980.
Before assuming the top job, he helped negotiate the first labor contract between the energy giant and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
He served on many boards, including that of G.D. Searle, Chicago Pacific Corp., Zenith Corp., Northwest Industries, First National Bank of Chicago and Tribune Co., owner of the Chicago Tribune, his family said.
He also worked with many nonprofits, serving as the chair of the Chicago Urban League, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chicago United, Community Renewal Society and the Chicago Community Trust.
Respected by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Mayor Richard J. Daley and the business community, he worked with all sides in an effort to curb housing discrimination, his family said.
James O'Connor, former chairman and CEO of Commonwealth Edison and its former parent company, Unicom, said Mr. Ayers had an impact on Chicago unmatched by businessmen of the era."He had an extraordinary social conscience," O'Connor said. "He was willing to step into situations where very few people were willing to risk their reputation. He had total courage and never seemed to weigh the consequences of that sort of activity. He never did anything for applause or for any sort of recognition."
O'Connor said Mr. Ayers was devoted to hiring and promoting women and minorities within Commonwealth Edison. He was often called upon to build consensus on sensitive topics.
"He was able to bring people together, which was why he was so often asked to be the head of different organizations and teams," O'Connor said.
Mr. Ayers saw potential where few others did. Standing in his office in the early 1970s and looking out onto the railroad yard near the Loop, he believed that the right type of development would draw people to the area.
Critics dismissed the idea, but in the years since then the South Loop has become among the city's more vibrant neighborhoods.
Although he was born in Detroit and attended the University of Michigan, Mr. Ayers was a staunch supporter of Northwestern University.
He was chair of the school's board of trustees for 10 years, and a university building bears his name.
"He was a guy of great intelligence and integrity, and he was willing to put the time in as well," former NU president Arnold Weber said.
"Those offices are not just honorary or for social distinction."
Equally important to Mr. Ayers was the educational and financial advancement of African-Americans.
"He felt the black community's success was key to Chicago's success,"
son John Ayers said. "He pushed business people to be more open in the 1960s."
John Ayers described his father as a "wonderful and generous man."
"In the '60s and '70s, we went through some rough patches in our family," he said. "He was very sweet and supportive of us all. He used to say, 'It takes all kinds' to get the world moving forward."
When William Ayers resurfaced in the 1980s, it was as though no time had passed between him and his father.
"It was as if we were in the middle of a conversation and nothing much had changed," William Ayers said.
In addition to sons William and John, Mr. Ayers is survived by a daughter, Catherine Allen; two other sons, Thomas G. Ayers Jr. and Richard; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
His wife, Mary, died in 2000.
Copyright (c) 2007, Chicago Tribune
-----------------------------------------
Former ComEd CEO
June 12, 2007
BY CHERYL V. JACKSON Staff Reporter Sun Times
Former Commonwealth Edison Chairman and CEO Tom Ayers was many men -- a prominent player in the cultural, social and economic advancements of Chicago.
He was the Chicago establishment, serving on the boards of Sears, G.D. Searle, Chicago Pacific Corp., Zenith Corp., Northwest Industries, General Dynamics Corp. of St. Louis, First National Bank of Chicago, the Chicago Cubs and the Tribune Co.
Mr. Ayers also was an agent for change, negotiating between Mayor Richard J. Daley's administration and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s open housing campaign in the mid-1960s, and developing the Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities to fight racial discrimination in housing.
He was a buddy to his five children. Each of his sons called him by his first name.
"Since we've been adults, we've always called him Tom," said son John Ayers. "I guess it's because we're very close to him. We think of him as a friend."
Mr. Ayers died at his Hyde Park home Friday of congestive heart failure. He was 92.
Mr. Ayers, a Detroit native and University of Michigan alumni, married Mary Andrew in 1938, the year he moved to Chicago.
'He believed in change'
His entire career was spent at some aspect of Commonwealth Edison, of which he became president in 1964 and served as chairman and CEO from 1973 to 1980. He was the architect of ComEd's nuclear power program in the 1960s and 1970s.
"He had a great social conscience and believed in breaking down the barriers that confronted so many people, particularly minorities and women," said James O'Connor, who succeeded Mr. Ayers as ComEd chairman. "Beyond what he did at Commonwealth Edison, he really set an example for other leaders in the Chicagoland business community to follow."
Mr. Ayers also served on boards of nonprofit initiatives and chaired those of the Chicago Urban League, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erikson Institute, Bank Street College of Education in New York, Community Renewal Society and the Chicago Community Trust.
While chairing the Northwestern University Board of Trustees, he helped start Chicago United, dedicated to racial minority group access to jobs and education. The project that made him most proud, son John Ayers said, was Dearborn Park, an integrated South Loop housing project, which he conceived and for which he raised funds.
With his sons deep in protest of the Vietnam War (one, Bill Ayers, was a member of the radical Students for a Democratic Society who went underground for about 11 years) the businessman supported his children and their campaign. "Our father always stood by us," John Ayers said. "He was an establishment guy, but he believed in us. He believed in change."
After the Board of Education's financial collapse of 1979, Mayor Jane M. Byrne named Mr. Ayers as her choice for president of the new board..
Mr. Ayers' wife died earlier. In addition to sons John and Bill, he also is survived by sons Tim and Richard; his daughter, Catherine Allen; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Chicago Sun-Times
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