Newly elected Chairman of Illinois Press, Mr. William Garth, Sr. is publisher and CEO of the Chicago Citizen Newspaper Group, Garthco, Inc. and Founder/Chairman of the QBG Foundation. Mr. Garth is the guiding force behind what is known as the largest Black-owned chain of weekly newspapers in the Midwest.

Having started with the Citizen Newspaper in 1969 as an advertising sales representative under the leadership of former Congressman Gus Savage, Garth purchased the Chatham Citizen, South End Citizen and Chicago Weekend in 1980. He later added the South Suburban and the Hyde Park editions, and founded Garthco Publications, which published PUSH Magazine, a bi-monthly national publication. With Chicago’s population being nearly 50% Black, the Citizen has effectively reached this market. Citizen Newspapers has a total circulation of 121,000 and a weekly readership of over 400,000. The circulation areas cover Chicago’s South and West sides as well as the South Suburbs.

As a tribute to his business acumen, Garth became the first Black person to be elected President of the Illinois Press Association (IPA). The IPA is the state’s largest newspaper association and the office trade organization for Illinois’ weekly and daily newspapers. Garth is the second Black person in the nation elected president of a statewide press association. Garth currently sits on the Board of Government Affairs Committee, of the Illinois Press Association and has served as a board member for 15 years. In addition, was elected a stockholder in the Cook County South Suburban Publishers Association. His business savvy and knowledge in the publishing industry allowed him to also serve as Chairman of the Midwest Black Publisher Association. In December 1998, Garth received the honor of being appointed to Governor-elect George Ryan’s Transition Team. In appreciation of his role and the support shown during the election Governor-elect Ryan appointed him to the Board of Directors for the Illinois Inauguration 1998, Inc.

In 1995 William Garth, Sr. founded the Quentis Bernard Garth (QBG) Foundation in memory of his youngest son, Quentis B. Garth, of which he is chairman. The QBG Foundation provides scholarships to the disenfranchised, college-bound youths of the Chicagoland area. To date the Foundation has helped 36 students realize their dream of becoming college graduates and has underwritten the education of 49 students; with 11 scholars currently enrolled in colleges and universities across the country. The QBG Foundation has disbursed close to $1 million in scholarship awards.

A dedicated activist and leader in the business community, Garth maintains memberships and positions with several business organizations. He is Chairman of the Chatham Business Association, President of Midwest Region III of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Vice-Chairman of Advertising with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Transition Team for IDOT – Dan Ryan Project, board member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, member of the Far Southside Business Association, the NAACP, Chatham Lions Club of Chicago and the Association of Black Journalist.

Mr. Garth has received numerous awards and honors from both local and national organizations. One most esteemed honor was carrying the Olympic Torch in Chicago during the 2002 Torch Relay. These awards have become trademarks of his extraordinary character and commitment to the Black community.