Chicago Association of REALTORS® Inducts Longtime Community Activist and Fair Housing Champion into the Hall of Fame

The Chicago Association of REALTORS® inducted its former president and noted community leader Frank Williams into their Hall of Fame at the 134th Inaugural Gala on Monday, Oct. 9, at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. A Chicago REALTOR® since 1971, Frank is a community leader who has made a career of challenging inequality, championing education and professional opportunities for minority real estate brokers, and demanding fair housing rights for all. Following the civil rights movement, Frank worked to find homes for black buyers in historically white neighborhoods on the southwest side. He persisted in these desegregation efforts, despite ongoing harassment and threats, including a bomb being detonated outside his front door. For decades, he has advocated for fair housing legislation and against discriminatory lending practices at City Hall and in Springfield. In addition to his service as the president of C.A.R. from 1989 to 1990, he has been president and active volunteer for a variety of real estate and community organizations, including the Dearborn REALTIST® Board, the Southside Chicago branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Ada S. McKinley Community Services. His work to ensure fair housing practices throughout the city and equal opportunity in the real estate industry has been lauded by many in our community. In 1991, Illinois REALTORS® honored him with the first-ever Distinguished Member Award for Community Service, and in 1992 C.A.R. honored him as their REALTOR® of the Year. Most recently, he was honored with the 2017 Gale Cincotta Community Visionary Award by the Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago for his leadership, innovation, and passion in his efforts to make our communities better places to live and work. His work to mentor and create opportunities for others continues in his role as an instructor for the REALTORS® Real Estate School, where since 1974 he has influenced hundreds of REALTORS® starting and furthering their careers. His emphasis on mentorship, education and the hiring and placement of minorities in the real estate business has truly helped to advance and strengthen our industry. “Frank has an incredible legacy, not only in the real estate industry, but throughout Chicago,” Matt Silver, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and partner at Urban Real Estate, said. “His induction into the Hall of Fame is a recognition of his efforts to ensure everyone, regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, has a seat at the table, a voice in the room and the right to pursue the American dream of owning a home. I cannot imagine a more deserving REALTOR® for this honor.” The Chicago Association of REALTORS® Hall of Fame was created in 1986 to honor professionals who leave a positive and profound influence on the younger generations in real estate and who helped to shape Chicago’s skyline. For more information regarding Frank Williams, please contact Maria Dickman, mdickman@chicagorealtor.com. The Chicago Association of REALTORS® is the “Voice of Real Estate®” in Chicago and the suburbs we serve since 1883, representing over 14,500 members from all real estate specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions and residential sales.