Saturday, April 11, 2009

Dead Page: Tuskegee Airman/Judge-- Chicago Architect/Bridge Too Far

EARL STRAYHORN 1918-2009

Judge, Former Tuskegee Airman

Died Feb. 15th at age 90. Defense attorney and Cook County Circuit Court judge for 28 years. Born in Mississippi, moved to Chicago where he graduated from Tilden High School and received undergraduate degree from U of I.

During World War II, he was an artillery officer in the famed Tuskegee Airmen, fighting in Italy and later joined the National Guard where he became a lieutenant-colonel.


JOHN A. HOLABIRD, JR. 1920-2009

Chicago Architect in Historic Firm/At "Bridge Too Far"

Holabird & Root founded by grandfather in 1880, shaped city

From family dynasty of architects who designed and built early skyscrapers and the art deco Chicago Board of Trade. Died Feb. 16th at age 88.

His grandfather, William Holabird, established the firm in 1880 and led the way in the construction of tall buildings with steel girders instead of load-bearing exterior walls. Built the Marquette Building at 140 S. Dearborn. The firm later designed the art deco Palmolive Building and Chicago Board of Trade.

During World War II, John served in World War II in the paratroops and received a Silver Star in the action made famous by the movie "A Bridge Too Far" when he and others paddled across a river to reach it.

He contributed to the design of the Ravinia Festival main pavilion.

From the Feb. 18th Chicago Tribune. Trevor Jensen and Blair Kamin


The Greatest Generation.

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