Let’s Celebrate!
2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sun. Aug. 10
We who cherished Les– -journalists, students, friends, neighbors – will once again celebrate his life Sun. Aug. 10 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at 537 Judson Ave. in Evanston. This is the beautiful home near Lake Michigan that Les shared with his wife, Priscilla Ruth MacDougall, our hostess.
Les was the first African-American member of the Society of Professional Journalist, the first black president of the Chicago Headline Club, and a pioneer in Chicago journalism. He worked at the Chicago Daily News, Chicago’s American, Chicago Defender, WLS-TV (“Les Brownlee: Channel 7 Eyewitness News”), and taught at Columbia College. If you were one of his students, he might have asked you to stand in class and shout, “I am great.”
We honor Les each year with a $3,000 scholarship to an outstanding Chicago area journalism student. This year’s recipient is Lauren Divito of Loyola University. An important part of our fund-raising is this party — the suggested donation is $20 for all you can eat and drink while being merry with your friends and listening to the remarkable Harriet Ellis on her keyboard and Brian Gills on his guitar. If you cannot attend, we welcome tax-deductible contributions, payable to the Chicago Headline Club Foundation, care of CHCF Treasurer Howard Dubin, Manufacturers News, 1633 Central St., Evanston, IL 60201.
You who contribute $100 or pledge an annual amount will receive a complimentary copy of “Les Brownlee: The Autobiography of a Pioneering African-American Journalist.” Copies will be available for sale at the party.
RSVP to Susan S. Stevens at susanstevens@aol.com or 312-733-1936.