Leon M. Despres

Leon M. Despres (1908-) is an American attorney and politician.

A native of Chicago, Despres received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Chicago before beginning a legal practice cite web | title=Education | year=October 2005 | publisher=The University of Chicago Chronicle | url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/051006/benton.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-03]

In April 1955, Despres was elected to the Chicago City Council from the city's Hyde Park neighborhood. cite web | title=City Council | year=May 2005 | publisher=The New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/31/national/31despres.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=login | accessdate=2008-06-03] Serving until 1975, Despres gained fame as an independent Democrat, consistently opposing the policies of Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley. Frequently on the short end of 49-1 votes, Despres became known as the "liberal conscience of Chicago." cite web | title=Education | year=October 2005 | publisher=The University of Chicago Chronicle | url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/051006/benton.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-03] Because of his strong advocacy of civil rights and open housing, Despres also became known as "the lone Negro on the City Council," even though he is white and the council had six black alderman allied with the mayor. cite web | title=City Council | year=May 2005 | publisher=The New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/31/national/31despres.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=login | accessdate=2008-06-03]

Now 100 years old, Despres lives in Hyde Park and remains active in civic life. cite web | title=Education | year=October 2005 | publisher=The University of Chicago Chronicle | url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/051006/benton.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-03] In 2005, he received the Benton Medal from the University of Chicago. cite web | title=Education | year=October 2005 | publisher=The University of Chicago Chronicle | url=http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/051006/benton.shtml | accessdate=2008-06-03] While largely retired from the practice of law, Despres still maintains an office at the Chicago firm of Despres, Schwartz, and Geoghegan, managed by longtime colleague, Chicago labor lawyer Thomas Geoghegan. cite web | title=City Council | year=May 2005 | publisher=The New York Times | url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/31/national/31despres.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&oref=login | accessdate=2008-06-03]

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