Dorsey Crowe
Dorsey Ryan Crowe (August 21, 1891 – July 1, 1962) was an American politician who served as alderman of Chicago's 21st ward from 1919 to 1923 and upon its redistricting into the 42nd ward from 1923 to his death. A Democrat serving most of the Near North Side, he represented such affluent constituencies as the Gold Coast and Streeterville as well as such poor areas as Cabrini–Green and Goose Island. At the time of his death he was the Dean of the Chicago City Council, as well as the last alderman from the era of partisan aldermanic elections and when wards elected two aldermen each. An alderman for 43 years, and the last to have served under a Republican mayor, he is as of 2018 the third-longest serving alderman in Chicago history, behind Ed Burke of the 14th ward and John Coughlin of the 1st.
Dorsey Crowe | |
|---|---|
Alderman Crowe circa 1929 | |
| City of Chicago Alderman for the 42nd Ward | |
| In office April 16, 1923 – July 1, 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Himself as alderman of the 21st Ward |
| Succeeded by | Vacant, then Mayer Goldberg |
| City of Chicago Alderman for the 21st Ward | |
| In office April 28, 1919 – April 16, 1923 Serving with Earl J. Walker (1919–1920) Charles J. Agnew (1920–1923) | |
| Preceded by | Robert Hall McCormick |
| Succeeded by | Himself as alderman of the 42nd Ward Dennis A. Horan as alderman of the 21st Ward |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 21, 1891 Omaha, Nebraska, US |
| Died | July 1, 1962 (aged 70) Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Resting place | Queen of Heaven Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mary G. Kelly (m. 1939) |
| Alma mater | DePaul University |
| Occupation | Real estate agent |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army Air Service |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
A corrupt and mob-linked yet popular and effective alderman, Crowe kept his affiliation with the machine in a changing climate and was able to maintain and entrench his power within the 42nd ward as the decades wore on. His long tenure witnessed many political changes in Chicago and his ward. When he assumed office, the Democratic Party of the area was bitterly fractured and his fellow aldermen were Republicans; in the years since his death the Democratic Party has been the dominant force of the 42nd ward, which has yet to have a Republican alderman as of 2018.