Picture of a marble white Government Building with large windows

Mayor

Mayor Don A. Degraff of South Holland

Mayor Don A. De Graff

A lifelong resident of South Holland, Illinois, Mayor Don A. De Graff has served the Village for more than 28 years. First elected Village Trustee in 1993 and Mayor in 1994, he has led with a focus on community growth, strategic planning, and regional cooperation.

As mayor, Mr. De Graff represents South Holland in:

  • South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association
  • Metropolitan Mayors Caucus
  • Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce
  • Chicago Southland Convention and Visitors Bureau
  • Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation

He also chairs the Little Calumet River Watershed Planning Council and has served 10 years as the longest-standing member of the Metra Board of Directors, advancing projects such as the Southland Water Agency, South Suburban Airport, Illiana Expressway, and improvements to Metra rail service.

With 50 years in banking—including 30 years as President of First Savings and Loan of South Holland and two decades at MB Financial (now Fifth Third Bank)—Mayor De Graff brings deep financial expertise to Village leadership. He holds a B.A. in Business Economics from Calvin College and an M.B.A. in Finance from Northwestern University.

Committed to community, faith, and education, he has:

  • Served on boards for Illiana Christian High School, Calvin Christian School, Trinity Christian College, and Providence Life Services
  • Founded Unity Christian Academy and contributed to Chicagoland Prison Outreach
  • Led creation of the South Holland Community Center, Veterans Memorial Park renovations, and the South Holland Youth Commission
  • Authored three strategic plans: Balanced Approach to Housing (1990s), Model Community Initiative (2000s), and Vision 2022 (2013)

Mayor De Graff’s leadership has earned numerous awards, including the Outstanding Municipal Leader Award, Leadership Award of Excellence, and Lifetime Achievement Award from Diversity, Inc.

He and his wife, Nyla, are the proud parents of four children—Cari, Chad, Curt, and Cristi—and have sixteen grandchildren, their most cherished “awards.”

Welcome to the Village of South Holland!

It is our intention to make your experience in South Holland secure, convenient and rewarding.

Our Village was founded by early Dutch settlers in 1847. Our rich history has included a heritage of faith in God with an important emphasis on unity in the family. This heritage has outlined and defined who we are as a community. As we have grown into a diverse community we have retained and nurtured this traditional value system, which continues to provide a strong foundation for us as a Village.

Our mission as a Board and Administration is to create an atmosphere where each resident feels the acceptance of their neighbor and community. We desire to increase communication and to build strong new relationships with each other. We want to progressively move toward the goal of becoming a “Model Community” that will set the standard to which all cities, towns and villages will aspire. We will work side by side with our churches, businesses, schools, service organizations and residential leadership to accomplish this goal.

I am confident that you will find our Village to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family. If I, the Village Board or Administration can be of any assistance to you, please let us know.

Sincerely,

Mayor Signature

Don A. De Graff, Village President