William A. Redmond
Bill Redmond | |
---|---|
64th Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
In office January 1975 – January 1981 | |
Preceded by | W. Robert Blair |
Succeeded by | George Ryan |
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 40th district 37th district (1966-73) At large (1964-66) 36th district (1959-64) | |
In office January 1959 – December 1981 | |
Preceded by | Fred W. Anderson |
Succeeded by | Hubert J. Loftus |
Personal details | |
Born | J.D.) | November 25, 1908
Profession | Attorney |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1942-1946 |
Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
Unit | U.S. Naval Intelligence |
William Aloysius Redmond (1908-1992) was a member of the
Early life and career
Bill Redmond was born in
After graduating high school, he attended Marquette University where he earned a
His first job out of college was at the firm of Loesch, Scofield, Loesch and Burke. He continued there until he entered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant, junior grade at the outbreak of World War II.[2] He served in Naval Intelligence and as a Naval Security officer.[1] He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander.[2]
After the war, he returned to practicing law and became the first attorney in
Illinois General Assembly
In his third run for office, Redmond won a seat in the Illinois House's 36th district, which included all of DuPage County.[6] He was one of the 36th district's three representatives (along with John N. Erlenborn and Lee E. Daniels) in the Illinois House. He succeeded Democrat Fred W. Anderson of Downers Grove.[7][8]
The 1960 reapportionment process was stalled by partisan gridlock. Subsequently, the
He sponsored many pieces of legislation during his tenure including the creation of an Equality of Economic Opportunity Commission, created the Illinois State Board of Education,[2] and advocated for increased mass transportation for his suburban district.[1] He helped to create the South Suburban Transit Authority and the Regional Transportation Authority.[11]
1975 Speaker election
In 1975, Mayor Richard J. Daley supported Democratic leader Clyde L. Choate of Anna. Governor Dan Walker objected to Choate for personal reasons and supported Gerald A. Bradley of Bloomington. J. Glenn Schneider of Naperville, a legislator from Redmond's DuPage County, had reservations about a Choate speakership. He drafted Redmond to run for Speaker. No candidate, which at various points in time included up to eleven Democrats and the Republican leader James R. Washburn could get the 89 votes required to be elected Speaker.
After days of ballots, Daley and Walker finally chose Redmond as a compromise candidate as he was the only candidate no one could object to who had the experience to preside over the House. Choate refused to drop out and, with a small group of Democrats, held out against Redmond as the Democratic compromise choice. Over a week after the election for Speaker began; newly elected Republican Lee A. Daniels crossed party lines to vote for Redmond. After Daniels vote, a weekend recess was called. On Monday, Daniels and a small group of Republicans cast their votes for Redmond. This block included five Chicagoans, Daniels and Gene A. Hoffman; the latter two of whom were from Redmond's district.[12][13]
Speaker of the House
Redmond became a respected legislator on both sides of the aisle and during the 79th General Assembly; he was elected Speaker of the House as a compromise candidate. His election was made possible by the defection of freshman representative and future speaker Lee A. Daniels from his party.[5]
As Speaker, he took a hands off approach with legislation and toured areas of downstate Illinois that may have otherwise not met anyone from the Democratic leadership.[11] He became the first Democrat to be elected Speaker for three terms.[2]
In December 1981, Redmond chose to retire after twenty four years in the Illinois House. Longtime Democratic activist and attorney Hubert J. "Bud" Loftus of Addison was appointed to replace him.[14][15]
Post assembly life and legacy
After stepping down from the legislature, Redmond was appointed to the Illinois Prison Review Board by Governor James R. Thompson.[1] Redmond retired from the practice of law in 1986.[16] In April 1992, he stepped down as the longtime chair of the DuPage County Democratic Party.[17] He died in December of that year.[1] The Redmond Recreational Complex in his hometown of Bensenville is named after him.[18]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Former Rep. William A. Redmond". Chicago Tribune. December 12, 1992. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f "William A. Redmond Memoir". Illinois Legislative Research Unit. 1982. Retrieved 2016-07-11.
- ^ Schmeltzer, John (June 10, 1986). "Ex-speaker Adjusts To Life After Politics". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ^ a b Crawford, Jan (June 18, 1989). "Once Upon a Time There was a Powerful Democrat in DuPage County". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ "Representative Districts Outside of Cook County (New Apportionment)". Illinois Blue Book 1957-1958. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. January 12, 1957. p. 325.
- ^ "Biographical Sketch: William A. Redmond". Illinois Blue Book 1959-1960. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. January 12, 1959. p. 274.
- ^ "Biographical Sketch: Fred W. Anderson". Illinois Blue Book 1957-1958. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. January 12, 1957. p. 274.
- Chicago Historical Society.
- ^ "Representative Reapportionment: Legal Descriptions for Cook County Representative Districts Other Than Cook County". Illinois Blue Book 1967-1968. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois Secretary of State. p. 274 & 327.
- ^ a b Pollock, James and Charles Swearingen (February 1993). "Former Speaker William A. Redmond dies". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- Chicago, Illinois.
- Sangamon State University: 108. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- Chicago, Illinois.
- Chicago, Illinois.
- Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ^ "DuPage County Democratic Central Committee:Previous Officers". Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
- ^ "Redmond Recreational Complex". Village of Bensenville. Retrieved February 7, 2013.