John B. O'Reilly Sr.: He led, connected Dearborn
February 9, 2008 By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Age 89 former mayor of Dearborn from 1978 to 1985 with Mr. O'Reilly led Dearborn after the era of Orville Hubbard, the controversial mayor who headed Dearborn for 36 years.
With his open manner, Mr. O'Reilly connected with residents from all parts of Dearborn. He was known as the first mayor in Dearborn to reach out to the city's emerging Arab-American population, helping develop projects in the south end.
His son, John (Jack) O'Reilly Jr., currently is mayor of Dearborn. "I was really proud of him," O'Reilly said of his father. "He was a very grassroots-oriented public service person. ... He was a person who led by example, which I think is the key factor in a great leader."
His first job under Hubbard was director of civil defense during the Cold War era. He served as police chief from 1966 to 1977. He retired in 1985.
A public visitation is to be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. A special ceremony is set for 4 p.m.
A funeral mass is set for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Alphonsus Church, 13540 Gould St., Dearborn.
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or [email protected]. Born in Alberta, Canada, O'Reilly and his family migrated to Dearborn in the late 1920s. His father, Thomas, worked for Ford Motor Company, while the younger O'Reilly attended St. Alphonsus school.
After graduation, O'Reilly took classes in business administration at the University of Detroit before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942.
Following a tour of duty during World War I, O'Reilly joined the 425th Regiment of the Michigan National Guard. In 1950, his unit was activated, and he served two more years as a lieutenant in the Korean War, where here commanded troops on the front line. He would later retire after attaining the rank of major.
In 1955, O'Reilly was selected by the late Mayor Orville Hubbard to serve as the city's civil defense director and director of the Veterans and Senior Citizen Counseling Bureau before being appointed chief of police in 1966.
He would hold the position for 11 years, and is credited with pioneering innovative crime prevention programs such as the police hot line, a Neighborhood Watch program, a special operations unity and a 200-member police reserves unit.
"I'll always remember him as the father of our neighborhood associations," said Dearborn District Court Judge William Hultgren, who met O'Reilly for the first time while serving as city attorney.
"He loved this community, and I always respected him for that. He was one of the nicest, most capable men I've ever met. I'm honored to have known him."
O'Reilly also initiated one of the first community efforts in the state, opening a "mini-station" in the south end of Dearborn, working in partnership with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS).
The Inter-Service Club Council recognized O'Reilly's efforts in 1969, when it presented him with council's coveted "Man of the Year" award. That same year, the Dearborn Exchange Club would also honor O'Reilly with its first-ever "Outstanding Service Award."
In 1972, O'Reilly was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General for significantly reducing crime during his tenure as Dearborn's police chief — a position he would hold for another five years before retiring in order to run for mayor.
"I aim to prove to people that I can preserve and improve the quality of service the city can offer to the community," O'Reilly said in 1977 after announcing his attention to run for mayor. "I believe that to reach that goal, a streamlining of city government is in order."
A leaner form of city government remained one of the key points of discussion throughout O'Reilly's campaign, and was one of the first topics the former mayor addressed during his inauguration in January 1978.
"We will strive to provide for the 1,300 city employees an enlightened leadership," O'Reilly said after taking the stage. "We will provide a fair wage and descent working conditions. In return, we demand courteous, effective and responsive service from every city employee."
As mayor, O'Reilly worked hard to consolidate city departments, ultimately reducing the number from 22 to 13. He is also credited with overseeing the reassessment of property in Dearborn, addressing inequalities that had developed over the years.
"There was a lot of turmoil when John (Sr.) took over — he had some big shoes to fill," Hultgren said, referring to the popularity Hubbard enjoyed during his 36-year tenure as mayor of Dearborn.
"I think John was the perfect individual to succeed Mayor Hubbard...he knew the community and he knew the people that lived here."
In his first State of the City address in January 1978, O'Reilly said he welcomed the challenges that came with holding the top office in Dearborn.
"I'm certainly not naÔve enough to think that we do not face some very serious problems in Dearborn, not the least of which is taxes," he said.
"Despite our problems, I remain optimistic. We have a good community, a good tax base and I believe we can mobilize our greatest asset — a hard-working, proud people who want and demand a clean and safe city."
Despite the successes he enjoyed while in office, there was speculation that O'Reilly would not seek a second term. Those rumors were laid to rest in January 1981, when O'Reilly confirmed his intentions to seek reelection.
"I don't feel we have finished our job here," O'Reilly said. "We have been frustrated by high unemployment and the difficult economic times. My leaving now would be perceived, by myself and others, as leaving the job undone."
O'Reilly overwhelmingly won reelection in 1981 with 70 percent of the vote, a testament to his popularity. He would serve the city another four years, but, at age 68, declined to run for a third term.
"The prospect of being carried out of City Hall in a box is not very attractive to me," O'Reilly told the Press & Guide in an interview conducted Dec. 19, 1985.
"I don't believe there's anybody irreplaceable. This job demands a lot of energy, and ought to be filled by someone who's willing not to work 40 hours, but work 80 hours and go through all the emotions that are necessary when you are in a very tense situation. I just don't want to do that anymore." But O'Reilly's legacy endured long after the former mayor left office, whether it was through
February 9, 2008 By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Age 89 former mayor of Dearborn from 1978 to 1985 with Mr. O'Reilly led Dearborn after the era of Orville Hubbard, the controversial mayor who headed Dearborn for 36 years.
With his open manner, Mr. O'Reilly connected with residents from all parts of Dearborn. He was known as the first mayor in Dearborn to reach out to the city's emerging Arab-American population, helping develop projects in the south end.
His son, John (Jack) O'Reilly Jr., currently is mayor of Dearborn. "I was really proud of him," O'Reilly said of his father. "He was a very grassroots-oriented public service person. ... He was a person who led by example, which I think is the key factor in a great leader."
His first job under Hubbard was director of civil defense during the Cold War era. He served as police chief from 1966 to 1977. He retired in 1985.
A public visitation is to be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. A special ceremony is set for 4 p.m.
A funeral mass is set for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Alphonsus Church, 13540 Gould St., Dearborn.
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or [email protected]. Born in Alberta, Canada, O'Reilly and his family migrated to Dearborn in the late 1920s. His father, Thomas, worked for Ford Motor Company, while the younger O'Reilly attended St. Alphonsus school.
After graduation, O'Reilly took classes in business administration at the University of Detroit before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942.
Following a tour of duty during World War I, O'Reilly joined the 425th Regiment of the Michigan National Guard. In 1950, his unit was activated, and he served two more years as a lieutenant in the Korean War, where here commanded troops on the front line. He would later retire after attaining the rank of major.
In 1955, O'Reilly was selected by the late Mayor Orville Hubbard to serve as the city's civil defense director and director of the Veterans and Senior Citizen Counseling Bureau before being appointed chief of police in 1966.
He would hold the position for 11 years, and is credited with pioneering innovative crime prevention programs such as the police hot line, a Neighborhood Watch program, a special operations unity and a 200-member police reserves unit.
"I'll always remember him as the father of our neighborhood associations," said Dearborn District Court Judge William Hultgren, who met O'Reilly for the first time while serving as city attorney.
"He loved this community, and I always respected him for that. He was one of the nicest, most capable men I've ever met. I'm honored to have known him."
O'Reilly also initiated one of the first community efforts in the state, opening a "mini-station" in the south end of Dearborn, working in partnership with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS).
The Inter-Service Club Council recognized O'Reilly's efforts in 1969, when it presented him with council's coveted "Man of the Year" award. That same year, the Dearborn Exchange Club would also honor O'Reilly with its first-ever "Outstanding Service Award."
In 1972, O'Reilly was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General for significantly reducing crime during his tenure as Dearborn's police chief — a position he would hold for another five years before retiring in order to run for mayor.
"I aim to prove to people that I can preserve and improve the quality of service the city can offer to the community," O'Reilly said in 1977 after announcing his attention to run for mayor. "I believe that to reach that goal, a streamlining of city government is in order."
A leaner form of city government remained one of the key points of discussion throughout O'Reilly's campaign, and was one of the first topics the former mayor addressed during his inauguration in January 1978.
"We will strive to provide for the 1,300 city employees an enlightened leadership," O'Reilly said after taking the stage. "We will provide a fair wage and descent working conditions. In return, we demand courteous, effective and responsive service from every city employee."
As mayor, O'Reilly worked hard to consolidate city departments, ultimately reducing the number from 22 to 13. He is also credited with overseeing the reassessment of property in Dearborn, addressing inequalities that had developed over the years.
"There was a lot of turmoil when John (Sr.) took over — he had some big shoes to fill," Hultgren said, referring to the popularity Hubbard enjoyed during his 36-year tenure as mayor of Dearborn.
"I think John was the perfect individual to succeed Mayor Hubbard...he knew the community and he knew the people that lived here."
In his first State of the City address in January 1978, O'Reilly said he welcomed the challenges that came with holding the top office in Dearborn.
"I'm certainly not naÔve enough to think that we do not face some very serious problems in Dearborn, not the least of which is taxes," he said.
"Despite our problems, I remain optimistic. We have a good community, a good tax base and I believe we can mobilize our greatest asset — a hard-working, proud people who want and demand a clean and safe city."
Despite the successes he enjoyed while in office, there was speculation that O'Reilly would not seek a second term. Those rumors were laid to rest in January 1981, when O'Reilly confirmed his intentions to seek reelection.
"I don't feel we have finished our job here," O'Reilly said. "We have been frustrated by high unemployment and the difficult economic times. My leaving now would be perceived, by myself and others, as leaving the job undone."
O'Reilly overwhelmingly won reelection in 1981 with 70 percent of the vote, a testament to his popularity. He would serve the city another four years, but, at age 68, declined to run for a third term.
"The prospect of being carried out of City Hall in a box is not very attractive to me," O'Reilly told the Press & Guide in an interview conducted Dec. 19, 1985.
"I don't believe there's anybody irreplaceable. This job demands a lot of energy, and ought to be filled by someone who's willing not to work 40 hours, but work 80 hours and go through all the emotions that are necessary when you are in a very tense situation. I just don't want to do that anymore." But O'Reilly's legacy endured long after the former mayor left office, whether it was through
John B. O'Reilly Sr.: He led, connected Dearborn
February 9, 2008 By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Age 89 former mayor of Dearborn from 1978 to 1985 with Mr. O'Reilly led Dearborn after the era of Orville Hubbard, the controversial mayor who headed Dearborn for 36 years.
With his open manner, Mr. O'Reilly connected with residents from all parts of Dearborn. He was known as the first mayor in Dearborn to reach out to the city's emerging Arab-American population, helping develop projects in the south end.
His son, John (Jack) O'Reilly Jr., currently is mayor of Dearborn. "I was really proud of him," O'Reilly said of his father. "He was a very grassroots-oriented public service person. ... He was a person who led by example, which I think is the key factor in a great leader."
His first job under Hubbard was director of civil defense during the Cold War era. He served as police chief from 1966 to 1977. He retired in 1985.
A public visitation is to be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. A special ceremony is set for 4 p.m.
A funeral mass is set for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Alphonsus Church, 13540 Gould St., Dearborn.
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or [email protected]. Born in Alberta, Canada, O'Reilly and his family migrated to Dearborn in the late 1920s. His father, Thomas, worked for Ford Motor Company, while the younger O'Reilly attended St. Alphonsus school.
After graduation, O'Reilly took classes in business administration at the University of Detroit before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942.
Following a tour of duty during World War I, O'Reilly joined the 425th Regiment of the Michigan National Guard. In 1950, his unit was activated, and he served two more years as a lieutenant in the Korean War, where here commanded troops on the front line. He would later retire after attaining the rank of major.
In 1955, O'Reilly was selected by the late Mayor Orville Hubbard to serve as the city's civil defense director and director of the Veterans and Senior Citizen Counseling Bureau before being appointed chief of police in 1966.
He would hold the position for 11 years, and is credited with pioneering innovative crime prevention programs such as the police hot line, a Neighborhood Watch program, a special operations unity and a 200-member police reserves unit.
"I'll always remember him as the father of our neighborhood associations," said Dearborn District Court Judge William Hultgren, who met O'Reilly for the first time while serving as city attorney.
"He loved this community, and I always respected him for that. He was one of the nicest, most capable men I've ever met. I'm honored to have known him."
O'Reilly also initiated one of the first community efforts in the state, opening a "mini-station" in the south end of Dearborn, working in partnership with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS).
The Inter-Service Club Council recognized O'Reilly's efforts in 1969, when it presented him with council's coveted "Man of the Year" award. That same year, the Dearborn Exchange Club would also honor O'Reilly with its first-ever "Outstanding Service Award."
In 1972, O'Reilly was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General for significantly reducing crime during his tenure as Dearborn's police chief — a position he would hold for another five years before retiring in order to run for mayor.
"I aim to prove to people that I can preserve and improve the quality of service the city can offer to the community," O'Reilly said in 1977 after announcing his attention to run for mayor. "I believe that to reach that goal, a streamlining of city government is in order."
A leaner form of city government remained one of the key points of discussion throughout O'Reilly's campaign, and was one of the first topics the former mayor addressed during his inauguration in January 1978.
"We will strive to provide for the 1,300 city employees an enlightened leadership," O'Reilly said after taking the stage. "We will provide a fair wage and descent working conditions. In return, we demand courteous, effective and responsive service from every city employee."
As mayor, O'Reilly worked hard to consolidate city departments, ultimately reducing the number from 22 to 13. He is also credited with overseeing the reassessment of property in Dearborn, addressing inequalities that had developed over the years.
"There was a lot of turmoil when John (Sr.) took over — he had some big shoes to fill," Hultgren said, referring to the popularity Hubbard enjoyed during his 36-year tenure as mayor of Dearborn.
"I think John was the perfect individual to succeed Mayor Hubbard...he knew the community and he knew the people that lived here."
In his first State of the City address in January 1978, O'Reilly said he welcomed the challenges that came with holding the top office in Dearborn.
"I'm certainly not naÔve enough to think that we do not face some very serious problems in Dearborn, not the least of which is taxes," he said.
"Despite our problems, I remain optimistic. We have a good community, a good tax base and I believe we can mobilize our greatest asset — a hard-working, proud people who want and demand a clean and safe city."
Despite the successes he enjoyed while in office, there was speculation that O'Reilly would not seek a second term. Those rumors were laid to rest in January 1981, when O'Reilly confirmed his intentions to seek reelection.
"I don't feel we have finished our job here," O'Reilly said. "We have been frustrated by high unemployment and the difficult economic times. My leaving now would be perceived, by myself and others, as leaving the job undone."
O'Reilly overwhelmingly won reelection in 1981 with 70 percent of the vote, a testament to his popularity. He would serve the city another four years, but, at age 68, declined to run for a third term.
"The prospect of being carried out of City Hall in a box is not very attractive to me," O'Reilly told the Press & Guide in an interview conducted Dec. 19, 1985.
"I don't believe there's anybody irreplaceable. This job demands a lot of energy, and ought to be filled by someone who's willing not to work 40 hours, but work 80 hours and go through all the emotions that are necessary when you are in a very tense situation. I just don't want to do that anymore." But O'Reilly's legacy endured long after the former mayor left office, whether it was through
February 9, 2008 By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Age 89 former mayor of Dearborn from 1978 to 1985 with Mr. O'Reilly led Dearborn after the era of Orville Hubbard, the controversial mayor who headed Dearborn for 36 years.
With his open manner, Mr. O'Reilly connected with residents from all parts of Dearborn. He was known as the first mayor in Dearborn to reach out to the city's emerging Arab-American population, helping develop projects in the south end.
His son, John (Jack) O'Reilly Jr., currently is mayor of Dearborn. "I was really proud of him," O'Reilly said of his father. "He was a very grassroots-oriented public service person. ... He was a person who led by example, which I think is the key factor in a great leader."
His first job under Hubbard was director of civil defense during the Cold War era. He served as police chief from 1966 to 1977. He retired in 1985.
A public visitation is to be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. A special ceremony is set for 4 p.m.
A funeral mass is set for 11 a.m. Monday at St. Alphonsus Church, 13540 Gould St., Dearborn.
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or [email protected]. Born in Alberta, Canada, O'Reilly and his family migrated to Dearborn in the late 1920s. His father, Thomas, worked for Ford Motor Company, while the younger O'Reilly attended St. Alphonsus school.
After graduation, O'Reilly took classes in business administration at the University of Detroit before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1942.
Following a tour of duty during World War I, O'Reilly joined the 425th Regiment of the Michigan National Guard. In 1950, his unit was activated, and he served two more years as a lieutenant in the Korean War, where here commanded troops on the front line. He would later retire after attaining the rank of major.
In 1955, O'Reilly was selected by the late Mayor Orville Hubbard to serve as the city's civil defense director and director of the Veterans and Senior Citizen Counseling Bureau before being appointed chief of police in 1966.
He would hold the position for 11 years, and is credited with pioneering innovative crime prevention programs such as the police hot line, a Neighborhood Watch program, a special operations unity and a 200-member police reserves unit.
"I'll always remember him as the father of our neighborhood associations," said Dearborn District Court Judge William Hultgren, who met O'Reilly for the first time while serving as city attorney.
"He loved this community, and I always respected him for that. He was one of the nicest, most capable men I've ever met. I'm honored to have known him."
O'Reilly also initiated one of the first community efforts in the state, opening a "mini-station" in the south end of Dearborn, working in partnership with the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS).
The Inter-Service Club Council recognized O'Reilly's efforts in 1969, when it presented him with council's coveted "Man of the Year" award. That same year, the Dearborn Exchange Club would also honor O'Reilly with its first-ever "Outstanding Service Award."
In 1972, O'Reilly was recognized by the U.S. Attorney General for significantly reducing crime during his tenure as Dearborn's police chief — a position he would hold for another five years before retiring in order to run for mayor.
"I aim to prove to people that I can preserve and improve the quality of service the city can offer to the community," O'Reilly said in 1977 after announcing his attention to run for mayor. "I believe that to reach that goal, a streamlining of city government is in order."
A leaner form of city government remained one of the key points of discussion throughout O'Reilly's campaign, and was one of the first topics the former mayor addressed during his inauguration in January 1978.
"We will strive to provide for the 1,300 city employees an enlightened leadership," O'Reilly said after taking the stage. "We will provide a fair wage and descent working conditions. In return, we demand courteous, effective and responsive service from every city employee."
As mayor, O'Reilly worked hard to consolidate city departments, ultimately reducing the number from 22 to 13. He is also credited with overseeing the reassessment of property in Dearborn, addressing inequalities that had developed over the years.
"There was a lot of turmoil when John (Sr.) took over — he had some big shoes to fill," Hultgren said, referring to the popularity Hubbard enjoyed during his 36-year tenure as mayor of Dearborn.
"I think John was the perfect individual to succeed Mayor Hubbard...he knew the community and he knew the people that lived here."
In his first State of the City address in January 1978, O'Reilly said he welcomed the challenges that came with holding the top office in Dearborn.
"I'm certainly not naÔve enough to think that we do not face some very serious problems in Dearborn, not the least of which is taxes," he said.
"Despite our problems, I remain optimistic. We have a good community, a good tax base and I believe we can mobilize our greatest asset — a hard-working, proud people who want and demand a clean and safe city."
Despite the successes he enjoyed while in office, there was speculation that O'Reilly would not seek a second term. Those rumors were laid to rest in January 1981, when O'Reilly confirmed his intentions to seek reelection.
"I don't feel we have finished our job here," O'Reilly said. "We have been frustrated by high unemployment and the difficult economic times. My leaving now would be perceived, by myself and others, as leaving the job undone."
O'Reilly overwhelmingly won reelection in 1981 with 70 percent of the vote, a testament to his popularity. He would serve the city another four years, but, at age 68, declined to run for a third term.
"The prospect of being carried out of City Hall in a box is not very attractive to me," O'Reilly told the Press & Guide in an interview conducted Dec. 19, 1985.
"I don't believe there's anybody irreplaceable. This job demands a lot of energy, and ought to be filled by someone who's willing not to work 40 hours, but work 80 hours and go through all the emotions that are necessary when you are in a very tense situation. I just don't want to do that anymore." But O'Reilly's legacy endured long after the former mayor left office, whether it was through
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