Wilson Frost
| Wilson Frost | |
|---|---|
| City of Chicago Alderman | |
|
In office 1967–1987 | |
| Constituency |
34th Ward, Chicago (Armour Square neighborhood) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 27, 1925 Cairo, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died |
May 5, 2018 (aged 92) Palm Desert, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Residence | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
Phillips Academy High School Fisk University Chicago-Kent College of Law |
Wilson Frost (December 27, 1925 – May 5, 2018) was an American alderman from the Chicago's 34th ward who, upon the death of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley, briefly claimed to be Daley's successor. Had he successfully established this claim, he would have been Chicago's first African-American mayor.
Life and Political career
Born in Cairo, Illinois, Frost graduated from Fisk University and later went to Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he got his law degree. He was admitted to the Illinois bar, and practiced law in Chicago.
Frost was first elected as an alderman in 1967,[1] representing the 21st Ward. He was a Regular Democrat, and as a reward for his loyal service to the Daley machine, was selected for the position of president pro tempore of the Chicago City Council.
In 1976, upon the death of longtime mayor Richard J. Daley, Frost declared that he was now acting mayor, based upon his interpretation of the city charter and the fact that he was serving as President Pro Tempore of the City Council. However, the majority of Chicagoans in the mid-1970s were highly resistant to the notion of a black mayor, and the power brokers even more so.[1] Wilson found himself literally locked out of the mayor's office—he was told that the keys could not be found.[2] In a power struggle that lasted several days, the entirely Democratic city council determined that Frost was incorrect in his claim, and appointed Alderman Michael Bilandic[3] as acting mayor instead. To appease African American voters, the city council replaced Finance Committee chairman Edward Vrdolyak with Frost;[3] the chairmanship carried some real power, as opposed to the titular position of council president pro tempore. To clarify the mayoral succession process, a new position of "Vice-Mayor" was created.
Wilson continued to serve on the city council until 1987. The last public office that he held was Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Tax Appeals, from which he retired in 1998.[1] Frost died on May 5, 2018, in Palm Desert, California, at the age of 92.[4]