Goodbye, Mr. Mayor

May 1, 2006 12:00 PM, By Erin Semple

At the Sears Tower, Leroy Brown has been keeping the skyscraper secure for decades, even before it opened. In April, he gave his last orders as lead supervisor.

Brown says he has seen a lot of changes there in his 33 years on the job, which began months before the first Sears employees moved into the building, when only 88 of the eventual 110 stories were complete.

Completed in 1973, the Sears Tower is a contemporary 110-story multi-tenant office tower containing approximately 3.8 million rentable square feet (RSF) including approximately 159,000 RSF of retail space. The property also features a 160-car underground parking garage. One of the city's top tourist attractions is the Sears Tower Skydeck on the 103rd floor.

Brown's service to the Sears Tower started in 1973 when he was transferred from a Sears store on Chicago's West Side to work at the new headquarters. Brown says he watched the building become a monumental structure.

“My challenge was getting the people where they needed to go everyday,” he says. “Security is a very interesting job and career. I have learned about people and security itself. It has also taught me about personal safety.”

“You figure you are in the world's tallest building at that time,” Brown says. “It gives you a sense of pride and responsibility.”

More than 30 people reported to Brown. He handled personnel issues and post assignments. On his last day, he shared some words of wisdom. “Always stay focused,” he says. “Learn as much as you can. Learn about the equipment. Maintain a sense of dignity and respect for all visitors.”

For years, Brown has been a fixture around the building. Longtime tenants know him well, stopping to chat as he patrols the lobbies to make sure everything is running smoothly.

“We like to call him the Mayor of Sears Tower,” says Keith Kambic, director of security.

Most visitors come for the view, not realizing Leroy Brown is watching them. “You can pretty much tell if someone belongs in the building when they first walk in the door,” Brown says.

After Sept. 11, 2001, there were concerns about the safety of the building. All incoming packages began to be screened. “We knew what had happened,” Brown says. “We made it as secure as we could, and the tenants felt that way.”

This career started as a part-time job for Brown. After serving in Vietnam in the protective service, he began working for the Cook County Sheriff's Department. He passed the exam to join the Illinois State Police, but Sears gave him a better offer, so he decided to stay. “I enjoy the people I meet every day and the challenges of keeping them safe,” Brown says.

Working at a building like the Sears Tower has also led to a fair number of celebrity encounters. Brown has escorted the likes of former President George H. W. Bush, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson and others as they visited Sears Tower for business or pleasure.

Kambic says Brown has helped him to become more successful as a director. “Leroy has been a fantastic teacher to me,” he says. “This place is a complicated place to manage.”

Brown's retirement will not be all relaxation. He will serve as the deputy mayor of the village of Bollingbrook in Chicago's southwest suburbs, where he has served on the village board for 15 years. In retirement, he plans to act as a liaison between the city's high school and the police department, focusing his efforts on the youth.

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