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Civil servant and former Chicago Mayor Eugene Sawyer was born in Greensboro, Alabama, on September 3, 1934, to Bernice and Eugene Sawyer, Sr. The oldest of six children, he graduated from Alabama State University in Montgomery in 1956 with a B.S. in secondary education. During school, he traveled to Chicago every summer to live with his aunt on the South Side while working odd jobs.

After graduating from college, Sawyer taught high school math and chemistry for one year in Prentiss, Mississippi. In 1957, he moved to Chicago permanently to pursue laboratory science work. He spent two years working for Rockford Sprinklers before being hired at a South Side water filtration plant in 1959 as a lab technician. At the same time, Sawyer joined the Democratic Ward Organization of the 6th Ward, working his way up through both the organization and the city water department. He became president of the 6th Ward Young Democrats, financial secretary for the entire ward organization and president.

Sawyer served as alderman of the 6th Ward from 1971 until 1988. In 1987, following the unexpected death of Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, he was elected by the City Council to serve as acting mayor of the City of Chicago. He was sworn in at 4:01 a.m. on December 2, 1987, after a contentious fight that divided Chicago's African American community. During his tenure as mayor, Sawyer expanded Chicago's governmental outreach to develop cooperative partnerships with business and industry.

Following his term as mayor, Sawyer and his friend, businessman Charles Harrison, III, partnered to form CEI International, a reseller of natural gas and other fuels. He served as vice president of the company until 1997.

Sawyer was an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity since 1953 and a trustee at Vernon Park Church and vice chairman of the board of the Wyatt Center.

Sawyer married his wife, Veronica, on September 7, 1996.

Sawyer passed away on January 19, 2008 at the age of 73.

Sawyer was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on January 29, 2003.