Dedicated Heights Icon Dead at 95

Longtime Chicago Heights resident and former library board president of 50 years Robert Booth died on Wednesday, Nov. 20. He was 95 years old.

Booth was born in 1918 and first moved to the Heights when he was only 4 years old. He graduated from Bloom High School in 1935 and was one of the first people to be inducted into the school’s hall of fame during the school’s 75th year celebration in 1975. It was during his high school years that Booth also received his Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America.

Booth’s education continued, and he moved on to get a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Illinois in 1939. Two years later, he earned his J.D. degree from U of I and was admitted to the Illinois Bar.

When WWII broke out, Booth served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He returned in 1964 to work for International Harvester Company as a member of the law department. 17 years later, he was appointed head of the law department and began working for the company's overseas division—a role that required him to travel all across the world, to places like Europe, Africa, South America, India and Asia. 

It was during Booth's position as law department head that he helped save an American citizen and employee of the Harvester Company who was imprisoned for a financial violation during the cold war. 

He was promoted to Corporate Vice President of Law for the Harvesters in 1983.

Locally, Booth was a 75-year-member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights, of which he served as an Elder and Clerk of Session. For half of a century, Booth held the position of president of the Chicago Heights Library Board, and he’s been named an outstanding member of the Rotary Club of Chicago Heights.

Booth is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Elizabeth, and his two daughters, three grandsons and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Booth will be held Friday, Nov. 22nd at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Thomas St., in Chicago Heights. 

Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights.