Renaming of Bridge is Fitting Tribute to Former West Chicago Mayor A. Eugene Rennels

West Chicago, Illinois: July 13, 2011 – In keeping with the tradition of naming a community landmark in honor of a notable leader, West Chicago's City Council voted unanimously at the July 5, 2011 meeting to change the name of the Wilson Street Bridge to the A. Eugene Rennels Bridge in tribute to the City's longest serving Mayor (1977-1989) who was the guiding force behind the construction of the bridge in the early 1980s.

A visionary leader, Mayor Rennels recognized the need to improve the structure of the original bridge which had been built by the Chicago & Northwestern Railway in 1911 out of used parts from a dismantled bridge. His desire to replace it due to its age and structural weakness and his concern for public safety, was not popular with many in the community. Many felt that destroying it was destroying a piece of the community's history.

However, Mayor Rennels, together with the City Council, was so convinced in his belief that the bridge was unsafe, he called in a structural engineer to evaluate its integrity. His fears were justified, the bridge was deemed unsafe for traffic. “I remember feeling strongly that I would rather lose a little history than some kid's life going across that shaky bridge on a bicycle,” Mayor Rennels said recently reflecting on his memory of the events.

Initially, the City received no cooperation from the Chicago & North Western railroad for the bridge's replacement, so Mayor Rennels closed the bridge in 1979. He subsequently began negotiations with the railroad which resulted in partial funding for the construction costs of a new bridge, and secured the balance of the funding from the state and federal government making construction a reality.

“I am very honored to have this bridge named after me,” said Mayor Rennels. “I feel humbled, yet proud of the accomplishment it represents”.

A long list of other notable accomplishments can be credited to Mayor Rennels' tenure including his work with a developer on an intergovernmental agreement which solved a flooding problem and led to the creation of a viable industrial park, the formation of a committee to create a unique design for the City's Metra station, and his work with state and federal legislators when thorium became an issue for West Chicago. According to current Mayor Mike Kwasman, “Former Mayor Rennels started the war against storing thorium in West Chicago. He went to Washington, D.C. and gathered the troops to start the battle.”

Additionally, the purchase of the West Chicago Prairie and the land and building for the current Police Department, and his work to acquire the 1912 Chicago & Northwestern depot which was later converted into a community center, are part of his ongoing legacy of service. After 38 years of public service, Mayor Rennels remains active with the West Chicago Fire Protection District Board of Trustees and the American Legion Post 300.

“Renaming this bridge the A. Eugene Rennels Bridge is an appropriate tribute to a man who loves this City so much he stood up for it time and time again in the course of his twelve years in office, and who is still involved today,” said West Chicago's current Mayor Mike Kwasman.

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