12 Facts About Gus Savage

Gus Savage served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946 and then worked as a journalist from 1954 to 1979, owning a chain of weekly community newspapers in the Chicago area including the South End Citizen.

Gus Savage entered political life in 1948 as a Progressive Party organizer.

Gus Savage challenged the local establishment's chosen candidates for the House of Representatives in 1968 and 1970, losing the Democratic primary both times, but won election to the House in 1980, representing the 2nd District on Chicago's South Side for 6 terms, from January 1981 to January 1993.

In 1989, Gus Savage was accused of trying to force himself on a female Peace Corps worker in Zaire.

Gus Savage had long been controversial even in his own district.

Gus Savage faced a rematch with Mel Reynolds, who had challenged him in the 1988 and 1990 primaries.

Gus Savage claimed that "racist Jews" were donating to Reynolds, while Reynolds claimed that Gus Savage was involved in a drive-by shooting that injured him.

In one of his final acts as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds, excavation and construction at the site of the African Burial Ground in New York City was temporarily halted in 1992, pending further evaluation by the General Services Administration, after Gus Savage was able to leverage his reputation as a national political figure to bring attention to the potential importance of the site.

Gus Savage drove the Congressman and his belongings from Washington, DC to Chicago, Illinois.

On October 29,2015, Gus was discharged from the hospital after some minor issues, and placed into the care of his son Thomas Savage.

On October 30,2015, Congressman Gus Savage celebrated his 90th birthday, and he died the following day on October 31,2015.

Gus Savage is survived by his son Thomas Savage, daughter Dr Emma Savage, and grandchildren Thomas Savage Jr.