Bronzeville in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Truman Gibson Sr.
⎯⎯⎯
Truman Gibson Jr.
Bronzeville Walk of Fame
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 14, 2025
1. Truman Gibson Sr./Truman Gibson Jr. Marker
Truman Gibson, Sr.
1882-1972
Founded Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Co., 1929
Truman Gibson, Jr.
1912-
Civilian aide to the Secretary of War, 1940-1945
Erected 1996 by City of Chicago.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Bronzeville Walk of Fame series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 41° 49.853′ N, 87° 37.028′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bronzeville. It is at the intersection of South Martin Luther King Drive and 35th Street, in the median on South Martin Luther King Drive. The marker is embedded in the sidewalk just north of the Victory monument to Black soldiers of World War I. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Chicago IL 60653, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest and on the Great Lakes. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, and the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mjr. Robert H. Lawrence, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Lt. George Giles (here, next to this marker); Col. Franklin A. Denison (a few steps from this marker); Victory, World War I Black Soldiers Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Earl Fatha Hines
this page online
More about this marker. Roughly 100 Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers are found around the neighborhood. This is one of a handful located near Victory, the memorial to Black soldiers of World War I. It has a little bit of wear and tear that has led to the loss of a few letters.
Regarding Truman Gibson Sr. / Truman Gibson Jr.. Truman Gibson Sr. was an insurance executive. He relocated his family from Ohio to Chicago sometime in the later 1910s and, in 1929, helped found Supreme Liberty Life, a merger of three insurance companies hoping to stay afloat during the Great Depression. One of those constituent parts, Supreme Life, was headquartered across the street from this memorial at 3501 S. Martin Luther King Dr.; it has been designated a Chicago Landmark.
Truman Gibson Jr. graduated from the University of Chicago in 1932 and later began practicing law. In 1940, he became
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, April 14, 2025
2. Bronzeville Walk of Fame markers in front of Victory, the memorial to Black soldiers of World War I
Also see . . .
1. Truman K. Gibson Jr. Oral History. From the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library (Submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Company of Chicago. The Insurance Museum writes about the history of and some artifacts from the Supreme Liberty Life Insurance company. (Submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. The New York Times: Truman Gibson Jr. obituary (2006). Truman Gibson Jr. died on December 23, 2005. (Submitted on April 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Records of the Office of War Information 1926-1951, National Archives, circa 1945
3. Truman Gibson Jr.
Caption: "Mr. Truman K. Gibson, Jr., Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War, pictured at press conference Monday, April 9, following his return from Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations."
Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 239 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2. submitted on April 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 3. submitted on April 22, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
