Ever since contracting polio when he was two years old, community activist and business owner Dewey Herrington learned how to be a fighter, and use his strength to inspire others.
Pictured: Dewey Herrington. Photo courtesy of Gay Chicago Magazine
Herrington, 62, known by many as the beloved 'Mayor of Broadway,' passed away Tuesday, Aug. 12, of complications from degenerative brain disease at Chicago Height's St. James Hospital. A successful businessman and well-known community activist, Herrington is most remembered as co-owner of the Broadway Street gift shop Pass the Salt and Pepper, and as a cheerful, proud Pride Parade monitor.
Herrington pushed for more unity in the LGBT community, and was especially proud of Chicago gays and lesbians who reached out to people with AIDS in the "80s. "We need to stop the 'I'm this and I'm that,' Herrington said in a 1987 interview with Outlines. "We're all human beings and we'll all make alike and we're all part of this world.'
He was born in Kansas in 1946, the son of Beryl Dean and Helen Jane. Herrington moved to Chicago in 1972, where he met his loving life partner Walter Kogelis. Together, the couple, known as the "Dynamic Duo," owned and operated their gift shop at 3337 N. Broadway, which opened in 1979, for over 27 years.
Kogelis said that his partner of over 40 years was his source of strength. Herrington inspired Kogelis to put his talents to use and open up the shop.
"He really, truly brought out the best in people," Kogelis said.
Herrington worked at Playboy Magazine in the early "70s. He was a top sales account executive with the Chicago Tribune until 1979. In addition, he worked for the City of Chicago, assisting the director of the Department of Revenue.
The growth of the 44th Ward commercial district is in large part because of hard work done by Herrington, working with local merchants and building a strong report with elected officials. He founded the North Broadway Merchants Association and merged with the Broadway Development Corporation ( now the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce ) . He also served as a Special Service Area Commissioner for Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce.
Maureen Martino, executive director of the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce, called Herrington a "pioneer," and a "strong voice in the gay community." Martino said that Herrington was known for knowing everything that was going on in the neighborhood, as well.
"He was a stand up man with a good soul that always cared about the homeless, less fortunate and the elderly," Martino said. "There was no more he could love than his lifetime partner Walt and his two cats, Lucy and Ricky."
Herrington's contributions to the local LGBT community were also immense. For 25 years, he proudly served as a Pride Parade monitor.
"That was the best day of his life every year," Kogelis said.
Herrington was also involved in the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus; worked with the 23rd Police District Steering Committee to help keep the LGBT community's streets safer; and collaborated with HIV/AIDS agencies.
Herrington became more involved in HIV/AIDS activism after losing his twin brother, Melvin, to the disease. He ended up recruiting a lot of now prominent members of the community to work with social service agencies. He went from merchant to merchant to collect money to help those in need who were suffering from the disease.
Kogelis said that Herrington viewed the local LGBT community as his team, and worked seven days a week, attending countless community meetings and making countless local connections, in order to help make the community a better place.
"He was just tireless," Kogelis said.
Despite the number of critical contributions Herrington made to the community, Kogelis said he remained quite modest.
"He was always in the background," Kogelis said. "He didn't really want the credit or the glory. He did everything for the right reasons."
Services were held on Aug. 16. Herrington was laid to rest next to his twin brother at Graceland Cemetery.
