Jimmy Cagney would play Tom Herion in the old days. He’s Chief of the Lyons, Illinois Police Department, founder, big cheese behind The Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums band, and, for the last year, he has been running that mythological old fiefdom on the Northside, The Irish American Heritage Center. It's like being the boss of the Tower of Babel.
Mr.and Mrs. Herion, Joanie and Tom
Over the last 40 years this mighty arts center was sometimes a hotbed of controversy, lots of in-fighting and political backstabbing as only the Irish can do so well. It’s just part of our nature I guess. But it looks like newly re-elected President Tom Herion has the infighters on the run.
Turns out having a cop run the show might be the smartest move ever for the venerable Heritage Center. Many a pint have I lifted there, but I’ll say no more about it. President Tom Herion is above all an Irish storyteller and he gets it. Since being elected president he has made strides to improve the overall morale of this great organization - and it shows.
The Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums band.
That’s primarily why he was recently re-elected. Former president and my old pal, undertaker Geno Cooney, (“he’ll be the last guy to let you down”) is now interim Executive Director and helped Herion figure out the landscape of the IAHC.
Over a year ago Geno was working a funeral and the Chicago Garda were playing the funeral. Geno and Tommy Herion are sitting in Tom’s squad car shooting the breeze before the funeral. Tommy says, “Hey I’m thinking about running for President of the Board of the Heritage Center” and Geno spits his coffee all over the dashboard and responds ”Are you nuts?” Or that’s how he told it to me.
Tom Herion grew up on the North Side in St. Peter Canisius parish until he was 18 and moved to St. Juliana’s. He was a member of the Weber High School Red Horde and has been in law enforcement all his life.
Tom Herion’s late father was the famous police detective, Sergeant Don Herion, a celebrated mobster hunter who put plenty of organized crime capos in jail.
Tom and his family.
Tom proudly says: ”He’s the reason I became the police!” Tom Herion has been working in law enforcement for over 35 years, wearing many hats including sergeant and undercover narcotics agent before moving up the ranks to Chief of Police, a title he has held for over seven years.
He also helped found and leads The Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums band, dedicated to honoring veterans and first responders who sacrificed their lives in the defense of their country. This year the band crushed it with an incredible 105 performances from February to March, including media appearances and St. Patrick’s Day events across Chicagoland, on TV and in person.
A few days ago the Garda appeared at The Desplaines Theatre backing up The High Kings in their concert. Since his first election as IAHC president last July, Herion has quarter-backed a series of physical improvements to the Heritage Center, including repaving the old parking lot, which had more craters than the face of the moon.
Tom Herion on the radio
Part of his success no doubt comes from the many connections he has made over the years.
Regarding the paving gig, Herion credits, “Jim Sweeney of Local 150 Operating Engineers worked with Dwayne McGill of McGill Construction to have that parking lot completed at a rate that saved $200,000 from the original quote we had.” Now celebrating its 40th anniversary the Irish American Heritage Center is poised for the future with Tom Herion at the helm.
The center has remodeled the Erin Room for banquets, and is planning a facelift for the front of the building and the entrance to the Fifth Province Pub.
Plans are currently underway for epic “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” celebrations at the IAHC and the Chicago Garda have been officially invited by the Mayor of Galway to lead that city's 2026 parade.
I asked, “How do you do Chief of Police, Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums, and the Irish American Heritage all at the same time?” Tommy put it this way: “It’s unbelievable! I never stop moving, never stop taking phone calls, I’m operating 360 24 hours a day!”
So don’t be surprised to hear Tommy Herion up on the roof of the Heritage Center this summer, shouting like Jimmy Cagney, “Top of the world ma!” Only in a good way!
