Rotary Club of Evanston Honors Former Police Chief Bill Logan

Evanston, IL, April 28, 2020 — The Rotary Club of Evanston has announced a new annual award for civic engagement and leadership, which will be launched during its Centennial Celebration on Friday, May 1, 2020. The new William H. Logan Jr. Legacy Service Award is named for former Evanston Police Chief William “Bill” Logan, who will be honored as the first recipient of the award during the event – which is being held online Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the free event via computer, tablet or mobile phone. Registration is at https://www.betterunite.com/EvanstonRotary100.

The new award recognizes a pioneer in the community who is making significant contributions to Evanston through their time, action, talents and dedication. Honorees will be seen as a role models of civic engagement who have established a history of distinguished service.

Chief Logan is a longtime resident of Evanston who has made significant contributions to the city over the course of his life. As a student at Evanston Township High School (ETHS), he became the first black football captain, homeroom president, senior class vice president and winner of the Myerson award for football excellence. After he graduated, he attended one year at Western Illinois University on a football scholarship before being drafted into the U.S Air Force.

Upon returning from service in the Korean War, Logan joined the Evanston Police Department (EPD). During his time on the force he was an influential figure and notably served as the personal bodyguard for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his visit to Evanston in the 1960s.

Later, he returned to college to receive a bachelor’s degree in public administration and went on to graduate from the FBI’s National Academy.

After graduating, Logan returned to the EPD, where he worked for 30 years, during which he became the EPD’s first black lieutenant, captain, deputy chief and chief of police. In his time at the EPD, Logan was a champion for innovative practices, including creating the city’s first Gang Crimes unit and Citizen Research Advisory Committee, promoting the first female officer, championing a designated prosecutor for Evanston, and introducing community policing.

In 1987, Logan retired to become director of safety and security at ETHS, where he introduced a range of new initiatives, including creating the school’s first crisis plan, hotline, annual in-service training, and visitor sign-in system.

Logan has been an active civic leader in Evanston, co-founding numerous organizations -- including the Chessmen Club of the North Shore, Inc., the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), and the Fellowship of African American Men (FAAM). He also established volunteer organizations, such as Mothers Against Gangs.

He is a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Evanston, having served on its Board of Directors. He has also served on the boards of the Evanston Community Foundation; Evanston Parks, Recreation and Community Services; and the Levy Center Foundation. Among his many awards and honors, he received a citation by President George W. Bush at the 25th anniversary of NOBLE, the “Those Who Excel” award from the State Board of Education and the Life Service award from Family Focus.

The Rotary Club of Evanston is celebrating its Centennial in Evanston with a variety of events and projects this year. The club is an organization of local leaders and volunteers who are working together to improve Evanston and the world through service and giving back to the community. The club has been a gathering place and forum for leadership for 100 years. In 2019, the club launched a major new initiative to address food insecurity in Evanston.

To learn more, visit https://www.facebook.com/EvanstonRotary/ or @EvanstonRotary or contact Michele Berg at rcevanston@gmail.com.