Thomas J. Nichols

Thomas J. Nichols was the first mayor (village president) of the Village of Sauk Village, Illinois 1957 to 1965.
Thomas Nichols was born April 16, 1927 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin before moving with his family to Chicago, Illinois where he graduated from Hyde Park High School in 1944. Nichols served in the United States Army 11th Airborne Division and graduated from the University of Wisconsin and studied engineering. Nichols met his future wife Patsy Louise Wedmore while in Chicago. The couple were married in 1956 at St. Bride's Catholic Church in Chicago, Illinois. The young couple bought a new home in Indian Hills Gardens subdivision in a settlement called Strassburg, a small neighborhood of some 55 homes in the South Suburbs of Chicago. By 1956 the Calumet Expressway was nearing completion at the entry to the tiny community making it ripe for development. The AMBO I Construction firm moved into the area in 1956 and began planning massive home construction and sales. With the nearby Ford Stamping Plant finished and in operation, Sauk Village would soon become a boom town.
In 1957, Nichols was instrumental in pushing for incorporation of the small settlement, however, the name Strasburg was already taken in the State of Illinois. The new name for the community to be voted on in March, 1957 would be Sauk Village in honor of the old Sac Indiana Trail (Sauk Trail). On March 9, 1957, a total of 65 votes were cast in the referendum of whether the Village of Sauk Village shall be incorporated as a Village. On March 12, 1957, the Village of Sauk Village was officially certified and incorporate by the Illinois Secretary of State Charles F. Carpentier.
Thomas and Patsy would have five children Janice, Timothy, Nancy, Susan and Kelly.
First Mayor of Sauk Village
On April 16, 1957, Sauk Village held its first election for village officials. Again 100% of those eligible voted a total of 65 votes were cast and Thomas J. Nichols was elected the first Village President/Mayor. Nichols election coincided with his 30th birthday on April 16, 1957.
Development and rapid growth began as Thomas Nichols took the oath of office. Sauk Village was soon the fastest growing community in the State of Illinois.
By 1961, it was already time for Nichols re-election. Nichols was challenged by Fred Ansburg and Richard Black, Nichols beat out his challengers (Election results were: Nichols- 457, Ansburg- 327, Black- 283) Nichols handily won his re-election but decided in 1964 he would not seek a third term. Thomas and Patsy Nichols became good friends with who would become the next mayor, Roger Theisen and his wife Ginger.
In April, 1965, Roger Theisen would go on to become Sauk Village's second village president/mayor.
One of Nichols biggest achievements during his eight-year tenure in office was the acquisition of the Village's water system from Indiana Hills Water Works in 1961 for $1.3 million (some $10.4 Million in 2016 dollars). The village still maintains the original wells but on March 12, 2012 residents voted to change to Lake Michigan Water.
Beyond Sauk Village
In 1967, Thomas Nichols was transferred to New York due to his employment. So Thomas, his wife Patsy and 5 children packed up and move to New York. Nichols died January 2, 1981 at the young age of 53. Nichols Avenue in the "Bell Air" Section of the Village is named in his honor by his successor Roger Theisen and the Village Board.

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