Welch Celebrates Former Secretary of State Jesse White, Naming State Office in his Honor
CHICAGO – House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch honored the extraordinary service of former Secretary of State Jesse White, joining state Rep. Harry Benton, Gov. JB Pritzker, and other state leaders to officially rename the building at 115 S. LaSalle Street in Chicago as the Jesse White State of Illinois Building.
“Everyone who serves knows that our time is limited, but the work is infinite; someone will serve in these roles after us, and our goal is to leave them something better. So it’s only right that we celebrate Jesse White’s work and legacy, and honor him alongside Illinois’ greatest leaders,” Welch said. “This building will stand not only as a tribute to that work, but a reminder of the work we all have left to do in the model Jesse White has always displayed. For 45 years, he showed us the way, and we’ll walk forward in the path he forged.”
Welch and Benton passed House Joint Resolution 48 in 2024, renaming the state Chicago office building in honor of the six-term secretary of state, former lawmaker, and Cook County official.
At a naming ceremony last week, Welch reflected on White’s legacy as an Illinois icon, including service in the 101st Airborne and Illinois National Guard, playing in the Chicago Cubs organization, teaching in the Chicago Public Schools, founding the iconic Jesse White Tumbling Team, and ultimately serving as a state legislator, as Cook County Recorder of Deeds, and as Illinois’ longest-serving secretary of state—where he worked to strengthen, to reform, and to modernize the office.
“I am proud to have a State of Illinois building named in my honor,” White said. “I hope that the Jesse White State of Illinois Building will inspire future generations of all backgrounds to serve with honor and excellence.”
