Hurley L. Green was a hardworking man committed to his family, his profession, and his community.
Born to Atlena and Hurley Green in Beaumont, Texas on April 13, 1927, Green moved to Chicago with his mother as a youngster and graduated from Burke Elementary School and then from DuSable High School. This is where he met his high school sweetheart and wife of 57 years, Thelma Mills Green. Hurley III and Lee blessed that union.
Green graduated from Wilson Junior College and completed his higher education at Columbia College. He also served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1948.
One of young Green’s goals was to buy a home for his family. They made several stops on their journey to homeownership, including Hyde Park, Altgeld Gardens, Chatham, and Englewood, before moving into their first home on 73rd & Halsted in 1963. Their ultimate stop, their first true home, was an attractive dark brown “gingerbread house” on 76th & Euclid, which was purchased in 1966 from a Jewish homeowner who may have been the last to leave the neighborhood.
The 1970s ushered in Green’s media career. In addition to becoming the publisher of the BULLETIN Newspapers, he became the host of “Issues Unlimited”, a historic television show that became a fixture on WGN Channel 9 on Sunday mornings for three years. The well-rated TV program featured him moderating a blue-ribbon panel of city media representatives interviewing the local and national newsmakers of the day. It was through his weekly show that many Chicago viewers met and saw political and social activists.
The BULLETIN is a family-run publication that has been serving the southside community for over 40 years. Although there have been many changes at the paper over the years, Green’s weekly Page 4 “Shifting Scenes” column has remained constant as a catalyst for economic and political change in the community.
Although Green was deeply rooted in the community, he had local and national connections and influence in both political parties, entertainment, and sports. His circle of associates included both Mayor Daleys; both of the African American mayors: Mayor Harold Washington and Mayor Eugene Sawyer; as well as all of the southside aldermen and committeemen. Julian Bond, Rev. Ralph D. Abernathy, James Compton, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, and Rev. Martin Luther King were also in his distinguished circle of associates. He was so proud of his successful fellow DuSable High School classmates: Mayor Washington; singer Nat “King” Cole; historian Prof. Timuel D. Black; and former Chicago Police Supt. Fred Rice.
During his lifetime, he received several honors, awards, and recognitions by local and national organizations for his contributions as a citizen, community servant, and newspaper publisher.
Hurley L. Green made his transition peacefully on November 1st, nearly four months to the passage of his beloved wife, Thelma Green, who died on June 28th. He leaves to cherish his loving memory: two sons, Hurley III and Lee J. Green; three grandchildren: Jason, Jamal and Nicole; one new great-grandson, Sidney (born September 12); and literally thousands of friends, associates, and weekly readers.
Homegoing services will be private, but cards and well-wishes may be sent to the BULLETIN NEWSPAPER, 500 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60611-3775. The family is considering a future community Memorial Service so that well-wishers can share their personal memories of “Chicago’s Senior Black Columnist” in the near future.
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