IL SR2258

William Garth Sr. of Chicago passed away on September 23, 2016; he grew up in rural Bessemer, Alabama as one of 15 children.

Purchased the Chicago Citizen papers approximately 35 years ago and became CEO and publisher; the chain has a circulation of about 121,000 and is the largest black-owned newspaper chain in the Midwest.

Elected Chair of the Illinois Press Association in 1996, becoming the country's first African-American chief of a statewide press organization.

Founded a scholarship foundation in the name of his deceased son, Quentis Bernard Garth, which has dispensed more than $1 million to college-bound students.

The Illinois Senate extends condolences to his surviving family: son William Darrell Garth Jr., daughter-in-law Janice, seven siblings, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.