George Dunne
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George Dunne | |
|---|---|
| President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners | |
| In office January 1969 – December 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Richard B. Ogilvie |
| Succeeded by | Richard Phelan |
| Chair of the Cook County Democratic Party | |
| In office 1987–1990 | |
| Preceded by | Edward Vrdolyak |
| Succeeded by | Thomas G. Lyons |
| In office 1976–1982 | |
| Preceded by | Richard J. Daley |
| Succeeded by | Edward Vrdolyak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 20, 1913 126th Fighter-Bomber Wing (active) (reserve)Illinois Air National Guard |
George W. Dunne (February 20, 1913 – May 28, 2006) was an
from 1969 to 1991; the longest service of anyone holding that office.Early life
He was born in the Near North Side of Chicago, one of eight children of John and Ellen Dunne. His father died when he was twelve years old. He graduated from
Political career
He was appointed to a vacant seat in the Illinois House of Representatives in 1955, and was re-elected in 1956, 1958, 1960, and 1962. After eight years he became floor leader for the House Democrats.
In 1963 Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley appointed him to a seat on the Cook County Board.
Cook County Board President
In 1969, he became President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners, succeeding Richard B. Ogilvie, who had been elected Governor. Despite periodic revelations of questionable financial dealings, of which he was continuously cleared (Dunne owned and operated an insurance agency throughout his career in elected office), Dunne was re-elected in 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, and 1986. He was seen as a potential successor to Mayor Daley. Dunne succeeded Daley as Chairman of the Cook County Democratic Committee in 1976 after Daley's death. In 1982, Dunne lost the party chairmanship to Alderman Edward Vrdolyak, an ally of Mayor Jane Byrne. Dunne was aligned with Chicago's first African-American Mayor Harold Washington during the Council Wars period and was re-elected to the party chairmanship after Vrdolyak resigned following his defeat by Washington in the 1987 Mayoral election.
Pushing 80 and yet enmeshed in a scandal in which he admitted having sex with female county employees (
Death and legacy
Dunne died in 2006 on his farm in Hebron, Illinois.[3] The Cook County administration building at 69 West Washington Street (originally the headquarters of the Brunswick Corporation) was renamed in his honor and bears his portrait in the lobby.[4] On June 1, 2006, there was a funeral mass at Holy Name Cathedral, followed by entombment All Saints Mausoleum.
His son George became an actor and musician under the name
References
- ^ Blue Book 1957–1958.
- ^ Bettergov.org, "Pol who ruled Cook County for decades dies."
- ^ "George W. Dunne".
- ^ "Administration building to be named for Dunne".
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