Title
REQUEST TO INITIATE 45-DAY NOTICE PERIOD
TO NAME JACKSON PARK TURF AND TRACK FIELD IN HONOR OF BOB PICKENS
Body
To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that an order be entered authorizing the General Superintendent or his designee to initiate a 45-day notice period to solicit public input to name the Jackson Park Turf and Track Field in honor of Bob Pickens.
Proposed Park or feature: Jackson Park Turf and Track Field
Location: East of Stony Island Avenue, west of Hayes Avenue between 62nd and 63rd Streets
Community Area: Woodlawn
Ward: 5
Proposed Name: Bob Pickens Field
II. Explanation
The Chicago Park District naming and renaming procedures allow for the naming of features in parks, including playgrounds and buildings.
Robert J. Pickens grew up in Illinois. He attended high school in Evanston, where Coach Elias George mentored him and introduced him to wrestling. While attending Evanston Township High School, he was an all-state offensive tackle in football, the 1961 Heavyweight State Champion in wrestling and the 1961 Suburban Shot Put and Discus Champion. After enrolling at the University of Wisconsin, Bob Pickens was selected as the 1963 pre-season All-American and Big Ten Lineman of the Year during his sophomore term.
In 1964, Bob Pickens was selected for the Greco-Roman Wrestling Team representing the U.S. at the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. Pickens was the first African American wrestler to compete. He placed sixth in the world. In 1965. Pickens then transferred to the University of Nebraska where he was selected as an All-American candidate, received All Big-Eight offensive tackle honors in football and finished second in the National AAU Wrestling Tournament Heavyweight Division, and equally as important, earned his B. S. degree in Business Administration.
Bob Pickens was drafted to the NFL and played offensive tackle for his beloved Chicago Bears from 1967-1969. Fo...
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