The people have spoken. After more than a week of voting, the city on Monday announced the winners of the second annual “You Name A Snowplow” contest.
Nearly 10,000 residents voted on a list of 50 creative finalists. A tribute to Tom Skilling, the beloved WGN-TV meteorologist who is retiring after nearly 46 years, was among the winners, along with other Chicago area references.
The winners are:
- Skilling It
- CTRL-SALT-DELETE
- Casimir Plowaski
- Ernie Snowbanks
- Mies van der Snow
- Bad, Bad Leroy Plow
Each of the names will be emblazoned on a snowplow in one of the city’s six snow districts, according to the Department of Streets and Sanitation. The residents who submitted the names will be offered a photo opportunity with their plow and city swag.
This year’s winners will join the seven snow plows named last year: Mrs. O’Leary’s Plow, Da Plow, Salter Payton, Sears Plower, Sleet Home Chicago, Holy Plow! and Jean Baptiste Point du Shovel.
Chicago isn’t the only city naming their snowplows. Park Ridge announced the names of it fleet in November — including “Han Snolo” and “Sir Plows a Lot.”
The Department of Streets and Sanitation manages more than 9,400 lane miles of roadway in Chicago with over 300 salt spreaders each winter, officials said. Follow the fleet amid a storm with the city’s plow tracker.
karmanini@chicagotribune.com