Last Monday night, Evanston's City Council approved the honorary designation of the portion of McDaniel Avenue between Nathaniel and Greenleaf Streets as William ‘Bill’ Logan Jr. Way.
Logan, an Evanston resident of more than 50 years, joined the Evanston Police Department in 1957 and served for 30 years, rising through the ranks to become Evanston’s first Black lieutenant, captain, deputy chief, and chief of police.
During his time with the department, he was an early proponent of many innovative programs, including Community Policing and the Victim Witness Bureau, which became a state and national model.
Chief Logan has earned many awards, accolades and honors throughout the years, including the police department's highest commendation Award for Valor and Outstanding Performance Above and Beyond the Call of Duty.
He also had the honor of being selected as Dr. Martin Luther King's bodyguard when he came to Evanston in the 1960s.
In 1987, Logan became director of safety at ETHS before finally retiring in 2006.
He has served the Evanston community as a board member with the Evanston Historical Society, the McGaw YMCA, the Levy Center, and the Evanston/North Shore Branch NAACP, and co-founded both the Chessmen Club of the North Shore, Inc., Inc. and the Fellowship of African American Men.
Chief Logan turns 90 this summer.
Congratulations and thank you, Chief Logan!
Read DE's 2016 interview with Chief Logan here.
