PEOPLE
Edited by Rodd Whelpley

APPOINTMENT

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed city Transportation Commissioner Judith C. Rice to the post of city treasurer. Rice was commissioner of the transportation department since December 1999. Before taking that post, she was commissioner of the city's water department.

The position opened when Miriam Santos resigned and agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud rather than endure a second trial on charges that she improperly used her clout as treasurer to solicit contributions for her 1998 campaign for state attorney general. Santos was convicted of mail fraud last year, but in January an appellate court released her from prison citing a "veritable avalanche of errors in her trial."

REMEMBERED
A film on John Peter Altgeld wins an award

Photograph courtesy of Northern Illinois University

Sleep softly ... eagle forgotten... under the stone. Time has its way with you there, and the clay has its own.

John Peter Altgeld stars in a film that won Northern Illinois University a first place in the biographical competition at the Silver State Documentary Film Festival hosted by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

John Peter Altgeld: The Eagle Remembered, is about the life of Illinois' 20th governor, who died in 1902. Jeff Chown, an NIU professor of communication, assigned the project last year to his graduate students. They traveled to archives across the country to do the research and writing. Chown directed the movie and shared editing responsibilities with Brian Wiencek, the university's producer for the division of media services. The German-born Altgeld is best known for his pro-labor views and the pardons he gave in 1893 to the three remaining prisoners convicted on charges stemming from the conflict between political activists and police in Chicago's Haymarket Square in 1886. During his four years as governor (1893 to 1897), Altgeld also advocated higher education and fought against child labor. He appointed feminists from Jane Addams' social settlement, Hull House, to Cabinet-level positions. In 1894, he publicly took issue with President Grover Cleveland, who sent federal troops to smash the railworker strikes at Pullman.

To put such a turbulent life on film, Chown and his students used historical photographs, artifacts, newspapers, cartoons and interviews with Altgeld experts to create a narrative. While much of the film's work was done outside of the university, Chown credits NIU with the overall success of the film. "History documentaries require enormous amounts of manpower," he says. "The success of this film speaks to the talent and web of resources available at Northern."

36 December 2000 Illinois Issues www.uis.edu/~ilissues

AWARDS
Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation honored Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley with the 2000 Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy. In announcing the award, which was presented last month at the group's national conference in Los Angeles, the National Trust praised Daley for endorsing programs that have brought Chicago's landmarks back to life.

The group credited Daley with making it easier for building owners and developers to rehabilitate historic properties. They can now waive permit fees and get property tax incentives. "The Chicago preservation movement has jumped light-years ahead," National Trust President Richard Moe said in a written statement. "Under his guidance, Chicago's historic districts and buildings are enjoying a renaissance that will enrich Chicago for generations to come."

Public service

Mary Dempsey, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library, and Audrey McCrimon of the Illinois Department of Human Services have been awarded the Motorola Excellence in Public Service Award. The annual award honors people working for the city of Chicago, Cook County or the state of Illinois who provide exemplary service in the public sector.

A committee including members of the public and private sectors chooses the recipient. This year a tie vote resulted in two winners.

Dempsey was recognized for her work in expanding the Chicago Public Library's service hours, for construction and renovation of 25 full-service branches and for launching Internet access and online reference services for library staff and patrons.

McCrimon, who is responsible for overseeing compliance, accessibility and workplace safety for her department, was selected for her efforts in making the state more responsive to its citizens. She was appointed to the National Council on Disability by President Bill Clinton in 1994.

The Motorola Excellence in Public Service Award is sponsored by the North Business & Industrial Council, Illinois Issues magazine and Motorola.