William Garth Sr., the publisher and chairman of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group, died Friday, September 23, 2016 of complications associated with diabetes. He was 78.
Garth, who started working at the Citizen Newspaper in 1969 as an advertising sales representative, eventually purchased the Chatham Citizen, South End Citizen and Chicago Weekend in 1980 from former Congressman Gus Savage. The South Suburban and the Hyde Park editions were later added. His publishing did not end there as Garth later founded Garthco Publications, which published PUSH Magazine, a bimonthly national publication.
Garth became the first Black person to be elected president of the Illinois Press Association (IPA), the state’s largest newspaper association and the office trade organization for Illinois weekly and daily newspapers.
Garth was chairman of the Quentis Bernard Garth Foundation, which he founded in memory of his youngest son in 1995. The QBG Foundation provides scholarships to the disenfranchised inner-city youths in the Chicago area. To date, the foundation has helped over 49 students and has disbursed over $1 million in scholarship awards.
He was a dedicated activist and leader in the business community, who maintained memberships and positions with several business organizations. He held various professional leadership positions with numerous organizations including being the former president of Midwest Region III of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), board member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a lifetime member of the NAACP.
Garth was the recipient of numerous local and national awards and honors, including carrying the torch through Chicago during the 2002 Olympics.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
VISITATION is Friday, September 30, 2016 at AA Rayner Funeral Home, 318 East 71st Street, Chicago, Illinois.
HORSE LED PROCESSION – Saturday, October 1, 2016 – 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
(Route: Funeral home to church lineup at AA Rayner Funeral Home), 318 East 71ST Street, Chicago, Illinois.
WAKE: Saturday, October 1, 2016 — 11:15 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.
FUNERAL SERVICES: 12:15 P.M. – 2:15 P.M.
New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
754 East 77th Street (Cottage Grove)
Chicago, Illinois 60619
INTERMENT: Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 E. 67TH Street
Repast: immediately following:
New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church
754 East 77th Street (Cottage Grove)
Chicago, Illinois 60619
In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be sent to:
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
THE BILL GARTH SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Mail to: BMO HARRIS BANK
1400 W. 18th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60608
Or by walking into any BMO HARRIS BRANCH
