Gus Savage

A Representative from Illinois; born in Detroit, Mich., October 30, 1925; attended the public schools of Chicago; graduated from Wendell Phillips High School, Chicago, Ill., 1943; B.A., Roosevelt College, Chicago, 1951; served in the United States Army, 1943-1946; graduate work, Roosevelt College, 1952; attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, 1952-1953; worked as a journalist, 1954-1979, and was editor and publisher, Citizen Community Newspapers, 1965-1979; a founder and chief strategist of black political independent movement in Midwest; campaign manager, Midwest League of Negro Voters, 1960; chairman, Protest at the Polls, 1963; chairman, Southend Voters Conference, Chicago, 1960; chairman, Committee for a Black Mayor, Chicago, 1976; unsuccessful candidate for election in 1970 to the Ninety-first Congress; elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-seventh and to the five succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1981-January 3, 1993); unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1992 to the One Hundred Third Congress; is a resident of Chicago, Ill. Mr. Savage’s record was marred by an ethics investigation in 1989. He was rebuked by the House Ethics Committee on accusations that he sexually harassed a Peace Corps volunteer while he was on an official visit to Zaire. Mr. Savage lost the Democratic primary in 1992 to Mel Reynolds and stepped down from Congress the next year. Besides his son Thomas, he is survived by a daughter, Emma Savage-Davis, and three grandchildren.