George Sangmeister
George Sangmeister | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois | |
| In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Davis |
| Succeeded by | Jerry Weller |
| Constituency | 4th District (1989–1993) 11th District (1993–1995) |
| Member of the Illinois Senate | |
| In office 1977–1987 | |
| Preceded by | James F. Bell |
| Succeeded by | Thomas A. Dunn |
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives | |
| In office 1973–1977 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Edward Sangmeister February 16, 1931 Frankfort, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | October 7, 2007 (aged 76) Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
| Resting place | Abraham Lincoln Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence(s) | Joliet, Illinois, U.S. |
| Alma mater | John Marshall Law School Elmhurst College |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
George Edward Sangmeister (February 16, 1931 – October 7, 2007) was an American politician and United States Representative from Illinois. He originally represented Illinois' 4th congressional district, before it was renumbered as the 11th district.
Early life
[edit]Sangmeister was born in Frankfort, Illinois. Sangmeister married Doris Hinspeter. He attended Joliet Junior College before entering the military and serving as a sergeant in the United States Army during the Korean War.[1] After returning to private life, he attended Elmhurst College and then earned a law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Sangmeister spent several years in private law practice before becoming a magistrate for Will County, Illinois, in 1961. In 1964, he was elected Will County State's Attorney, the county's chief prosecutor and lawyer.
Illinois state politics
[edit]In 1972, Sangmeister was elected as a Democrat to the Illinois House of Representatives. In the 1976 general election, Sangmeister defeated Republican incumbent James F. Bell to be elected to a four-year term serving as the 42nd district's state senator in the Illinois Senate.[2][3][4] Sangmeister became a powerful Democratic leader in the state Senate.
In the 1986 Illinois gubernatorial election, Sangmeister ran for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and was endorsed by presumptive Democratic nominee Adlai Stevenson III to be his running mate. However, Sangmeister lost to Mark Fairchild, a LaRouchite entryist, in the Democratic primary. Sangmeister opted against joining Stevenson on the newly formed Solidarity Party. Stevenson chose former Cook County judge and son of Michael Howlett Michael J. Howlett Jr. to serve as his new running mate. The incumbent Republicans James R. Thompson and George Ryan defeated Stevenson and Howlett in the general election.
Congress
[edit]In 1988, Sangmeister was elected to Congress in a marginally Republican district. After three terms in the House, he declined to seek re-election in 1994, citing his frustration with national politics. Jerry Weller, a Republican state legislator, defeated fellow state legislator and Democratic candidate Frank Giglio in the 1994 general election to succeed Sangmeister.[5]
Later life and death
[edit]He returned to private law practice for several years thereafter. He died of leukemia, aged 76. He was interred on October 11, 2007, at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Sangmeister, George Edward". Nationwide Gravesite Locator. National Cemetery Administration. Archived from the original on 2021-07-31. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
- ^ Illinois Blue Book 1975-1976. p. 154. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
- ^ "November lineup for Senate". Illinois Issues. 2 (8). Sangamon State University: 23.
- ^ Gherardini, Caroline (ed.). "Elections: Democrats win clear majority in General Assembly". Illinois Issues. 3 (1). Sangamon State University: 26. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ Scobell, Beverly. "Election Names: Congressional candidates on ballot in March primary". Illinois Issues. 20 (2): 40. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
External links
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- 1931 births
- 2007 deaths
- Joliet Junior College alumni
- Military personnel from Illinois
- United States Army soldiers
- United States Army personnel of the Korean War
- Elmhurst College alumni
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Law alumni
- Democratic Party Illinois state senators
- Deaths from leukemia in Illinois
- Democratic Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois
- 20th-century American legislators
- Burials at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
- 20th-century Illinois politicians
- Illinois state senator stubs
- Members of the Illinois House of Representatives stubs