Venson, Lily Pagratis

Lily Pagratis Venson (1925-2011).

Lily was born to the late Rose Desila and Peter Pagratis and was a life-long resident of Chicago. She was an award-wining journalist and feature writer for Lerner Newspapers from 1963 to 1973. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for more than 100 articles over eight years on a successful community crusade to preserve 100 acres of private golf land, to establish Warren Park in the West Ridge community. She was awarded a plaque for excellence in reporting on this crusade from Illinois Governor Richard B. Ogilvie.

Lily served as Public Information Officer for Cook County Hospital and Public Information Officer for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services from 1973 to 1991, during which time she received awards for magazine articles from the Illinois Women's Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women.

Lily Pagratis Venson and George J. Venson donated the V001 series of photos to the Society.