Chalos, the son of a Greek immigrant who operated a downtown Terre Haute hat shop and shoeshine parlor that employed future entertainer Scatman Crothers, ran track and cross country at Wiley High School in Terre Haute and later became a teacher and a successful coach in the Vigo County and Clay County public schools.
His view of the community school as a gathering place and source of identity for a town was (and is) shared by more than a few older Hoosiers who still bemoan their loss more than 45 years after the law was passed.
During his years in city politics, Terre Haute slowly shed its image as a Midwestern "Sin City" that had existed for many years since it once was home to a thriving "red light district" and, for a short time (between September and November 1957), an international gambling syndicate.
Chalos sought a fifth term as mayor in 1995, but was defeated by then-Vigo County Sheriff James Jenkins, who went on to win the general election that fall.
He took part in the ceremonial opening of Terre Haute's extended First Street corridor, a project which was initially proposed during his years as mayor, in June 2005.