John Hancock

In honor of the Sesquicentennial (250th birthday) of the United States, the first signer of the Declaration of Independence and President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock, was honored with a street sign.

John Hancock was born in Massachusetts and was a wealthy merchant who traded and imported goods from Great Britain. He opposed the Stamp Act of 1765, boycotted British goods, and supported American independence. In 1780, he was elected the first Governor of Massachusetts.

Alum
Harvard University 1754

The honorary street is outside the building that had been known as the John Hancock Center from 1969-2018. The John Hancock Insurance Company had the naming rights to the building. When the company relinquished the rights and had the name removed, the building name reverted to the street address, 875 North Michigan Avenue.

Other honorary signs related to this site:
Architect: Honorary Bruce Graham Way
Structural Engineer: Honorary Fazlur R Khan Way

Chicago’s Ten Tallest Buildings

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Honorary John Hancock Way

East Delaware Street, between North Michigan Avenue and North Mies van der Rohe Way

 

Approved: 2025

Ward: 02
Alderman: Brian Hopkins
Neighborhood: Magnificent Mile

b. 1737 in Braintree, Massachusetts
d. 1793

Near

875 N. Michigan Avenue (formerly known as the John Hancock Center)

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Updated: September 27, 2026

Source

205802025

CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/john-hancock-way-chicago-skyscraper/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4GFoqEZGg0

The Constitution Center. https://constitutioncenter.org/signers/john-hancock

Robert & Eugenie Brandt

Robert Brandt was the Alderman of the 33rd Ward for 8 years (1963-1971). They owned the Brandt Funeral home in the Logan Square neighborhood., where Robert was the Funeral Director for 56 years.

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Honorary Alderman Robert & Eugenie Brandt WAY

Southwest corner of West Fullerton Avenue at North Kimball Avenue to North Kedzie Boulevard

 

Approved: January 2024

Ward: 35
Alderman: Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Neighborhood: Logan Square

d. 1996. Age 74 Robert ;2009 Eugenie

near former location of
Brandt Funeral Home
3421 W. Fullerton Avenue

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Source

20236053

https://www.chicagotribune.com/1996/01/16/ald-robert-brandt-74-also-was-funeral-director/

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2009/04/23/death-notice-eugenie-j-brandt/

https://www.yelp.com/biz/brandt-funeral-home-chicago

Honorary Jesse C. White Way

Jesse White is the longest serving Secretary of State in Illinois (1999-2023), 24 years; Cook County Recorder of Deeds (1993-1999); a member of the Illinois General Assembly (16 years). He served in the Chicago Public Schools for 30 years; he served in the Army and in the Illinois National Guard. He also played minor league baseball for the Chicago Cubs. While in college in Alabama, Martin Luther King, Jr. was his pastor.

Before his political career, he was best know for his performance troupe, the Jesse White Tumblers, which he formed in 1959 to teach urban youth the value of athletics and staying in school. His athletes are required to maintain a C-average or better grades and away from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. More than 18,000 youth have come through his program. In retirement from politics he is still actively involved with the Tumblers.

Veteran: Army 101st Airborne Division

Alum
Alabama State University (College) and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
Lincoln Park High School (Waller High School)

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Honorary Jesse C. White Way

100 West to 800 West Division Street

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Approved

Ward: 42

b. June 23, 1934 in Alton, Illinois

Near
Jesse White Field House
412 West Chicago Avenue

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Source

http://jessewhitetumblingteam.com/

WGN-TV Interview: https://youtu.be/yKPimx-0plg?si=emMZjORZar2mNK5i

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_White_(politician)

Illinois Organ and Tissue Donation Program. https://youtu.be/cw54o9HjSrY?si=aHG1ERRtB37Amtgh