Page 27 - May 2020

would prefer “Four Green Fields” – the culmination turns to the iconic moments and achievements. The presence of Lodge 7 grew infinitely when establishing the current headquarters at 1412 W. Washington Blvd.
The former headquarters for Woolworths and a one-time barber college not only became home for the Chicago FOP, but a multimillion-dollar play. Despite relentless criticism, Nolan made the decision to buy the building that has helped keep the Lodge financially viable and established the FOP alongside the city’s most powerful labor unions.
Angelo recognized the importance of Nolan’s role in procur- ing the building by commissioning a shrine to it. On the Horse of Honor that sits in the FOP foyer Angelo asked Chicago Police Officer and renowned artist Peter Bucks to paint, Nolan’s like- ness appears on the front next to a rendering of the building. More than a few people have suggested that when the celebra- tion to honor Nolan’s passing is finally held at the FOP Hall, that it be named in his honor.
Another shrine can be seen in the new Easterseals gymnasi- um, a culmination of years of work Nolan put in to make elected officials, citizens and Chicago Police Officers passionate about supporting the organization. The “Bill and Carol Nolan Donor Wall” acknowledges all those who made the building possible and pays homage to the man who started it all, in a manner Za- wacki called more than fitting.
Perhaps Nolan’s legacy will be his desire to always go out of his way for, well, anybody, really – Chicago Police Officers, friends and children with disabilities. One of his dear friends is attorney Tom Tuohy, who administers the FOP Benefits Program. Tuohy calls Nolan his mentor.
Tuohy asked Nolan about an idea to start Dreams for Kids, an organization to benefit kids who struggled with tough up-
The new Easterseals Chicago gymnasium that opened in February offers tribute to Bill Nolan and wife Carol for more than 30 years of service to the organization.
bringings. Like Tuohy did. Dreams for Kids has grown into an international benefactor.
“We are sitting at Kitty O’Sheas one evening and I asked Bill, ‘How do we do this,’” Tuohy explained. “He said, ‘I got a hun- dred bucks. You got a hundred bucks. We’ll throw it in and file the paperwork.’ So that’s what we did. That was Bill. He was there for you. He was always there.”
As a last request of this tribute, all Chicago Lodge 7 members are urged to search for Nolan’s obituary and read through all his achievements. Then, read between the lines to realize what he did to make the FOP great and make life great for so many Chi- cago Police Officers.
“This was done over 40-plus years of multiple 24-hour days and weeks and months of dedicated service,” Angelo empha- sized. “People may be taken aback thinking, ‘You can’t do this.’ You can if you put in the effort. That’s what people should look at – not just what he accomplished, but the amount of time it takes. A write-up like that does not come easy. Bill set a high bar with a lot of hard work and dedication.”
June 30th, 2020
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