William Stratton

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William Stratton

William Grant Stratton (born February 26, 1914 in Ingleside , Lake County , Illinois , † March 2, 2001 in Chicago , Illinois) was an American politician ( Republican Party ) and from 1953 to 1961 the 32nd Governor of Illinois. He also represented this state as a member of Congress .

Early years and political advancement

William Stratton attended the University of Arizona until 1934 . He then began a long political career. Between 1941 and 1943 he was in the US House of Representatives in Washington, DC From 1943 to 1944 and again from 1950 to 1952 he was Treasury Secretary of Illinois. In between he was an officer in the US Navy from 1944 to 1946 and again in the US House of Representatives (1947-49). In 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1976 he was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions . That party also nominated him as their candidate for governor of Illinois in 1952.

Illinois Governor

After the election victory against the Democrat Sherwood Dixon , Stratton took up his new office on January 12, 1953. After a successful re-election in 1956 against Richard Bevan Austin , he was able to remain in this office for a total of eight years. During this time the hospitals were reformed. It was ensured that enough beds were available for the sick. The government sold government bonds to fund the state's highways and the school system was improved. The country's universities were also funded. During Stratton's tenure, Vera Binks became the first woman and Joseph Bibb, the first African American to be appointed to the cabinet. In 1954 the foundation stone was laid for a new government building in Springfield , which was later named after the governor. At that time, the constituencies in Illinois were also reorganized. On October 30, 1955, Chicago O'Hare International Airport began operations. In 1957, the first nuclear power plant went into operation in Illinois . In December 1958, 90 people died in a school fire. In 1959, Stratton introduced uniform summer and winter time across Illinois. In 1960 the population of Illinois had grown to over 10 million for the first time. (For comparison: in 1950 the state still had 8.7 million inhabitants).

In 1960, Stratton failed in an attempt to be elected to a third term. Therefore, he had to leave office on January 9, 1961.

Another résumé

After his tenure ended, he was charged with tax evasion in 1965, but acquitted in court. In 1968 he ran unsuccessfully for a return to the office of governor. Then he withdrew from politics. He was Vice President of the Associated Bank of Chicago until his death in 2001. William Stratton was married to Shirley Breckinridge, with whom he had three children.

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personal data
SURNAME Stratton, William
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Stratton, William Grant
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician
DATE OF BIRTH February 26, 1914
PLACE OF BIRTH Ingleside , Illinois
DATE OF DEATH March 2, 2001
Place of death Chicago , Illinois