Back of the Yards in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Leslie F. Orear

Photographed By Sean Flynn, April 1, 2024

1. Leslie F. Orear Marker

Inscription. In memory of Leslie F. Orear (1911-2014), co-founder and first president of the Illinois Labor History Society (1969-2005).

Les walked through this gate along with thousands of stockyard workers. He helped to secure their rights through organization of the United Packinghouse Workers of America-CIO. He told their stories and preserved their memories by helping save this historic gate.

Here marks one man's work for the many. We encourage all kindred spirits to take up Les' great life mission to secure the rights of workers and social justice for all.

Illinois Labor History Society
Plaque and bench installed by proud members of Laborers' International Union of North America.

Erected 2016 by Illinois Labor History Society; Laborers' International Union of North America.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Labor Unions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1969.

Location. 41° 49.12′ N, 87° 38.905′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Back of the Yards. Marker is on West Exchange Avenue east of South Peoria Street, on the left when traveling west. The marker is near the Union Stock Yard Gate. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60609, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

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one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Union Stock Yard Gate (here, next to this marker); The Fallen 21 (a few steps from this marker); Union Stock Yard (a few steps from this marker); People of Canaryville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lt. Joseph T. (Jay) McKeon Jr. Park (approx. 0.8 miles away); Andrew "Rube" Foster (approx. 0.9 miles away); Bridgeport and the Development of Chicago's Infrastructure (approx. one mile away); Carlton Fisk (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The marker and a nearby bench were erected in Orear's honor in 2016.

Regarding Leslie F. Orear. Leslie Orear, a Missouri native, came to Chicago in the 1930s to work for Armour & Co. at the Union Stock Yards. There he saw firsthand the stockyards' squalid conditions and quickly became a leading labor activist, helping in efforts that led to the successful unionization of packinghouse workers in 1937. In 1969, Orear co-founded the Illinois Labor History Society, and he led efforts to gain national landmark status for the Stock Yard Gate as well as other Illinois sites related to labor unions. He died in 2014 at the age of 103.

Also see . . . Leslie Orear, 103, Helped Bring Together Black and White Packinghouse Workers in the 1930s

Photographed By Sean Flynn, April 1, 2024

2. Leslie F. Orear Marker

The marker and its accompanying bench are near the Union Stock Yard Gate, next to the Chicago Landmark marker in the foreground of this photo.

. An obituary for Orear in In These Times.

Excerpt: "Mindful of the packinghouse workers’ two prior failures to organize, Orear was a white union activist who focused on the need to bring together black and white workers. 'That was why the packinghouse workers became one of the most progressive unions,' Spivack explains."

(Submitted on April 2, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 42 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.