C. L. McCormick
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 59th district
In office
1957–1975
Preceded byHomer M. Butler
Succeeded byRobert Winchester
In office
1981–1983
Preceded byWilliam L. Harris
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
BornDecember 1, 1919
McCormick, Illinois
DiedMarch 1, 1987(1987-03-01) (aged 67)
Metropolis, Illinois
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceVienna, Illinois

C.L. McCormick (December 1, 1919 – March 1, 1987) was an American politician and businessman.

Early life

C.L. McCormick was born in McCormick, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Pope County, Illinois.[1] C.L. was his full first name, possibly inspired by his grandfather Christian and his grandmother's maiden name Lay.[2] He went to the Vienna, Illinois public schools and was elected to the Vienna, Illinois City Council. He served in the United States Army during World War II for forty-six months. After the war, he owned a taxi, merchandise, and restaurant business in Vienna, Illinois.[1] In 1950, McCormick challenged the longtime incumbent county clerk of Johnson County in the Republican primary and was elected in that year's general election.[3] He was reelected in 1954.[1]

Legislative career

He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1957 to 1975. He chose to retire rather than run for reelection in 1974.[4] He was succeeded by fellow Republican Robert Winchester while fellow incumbents Clyde L. Choate and Richard O. Hart were reelected.[5]

He returned to politics, defeating Democratic incumbent William L. Harris in the 1980 general election.[6] He served in the Illinois House of Representatives again from 1981 to 1983. In 1981, he announced his decision to challenge Democratic incumbent Gene Johns for the Illinois Senate after the latter had been indicted for violating campaign contribution disclosure laws.[6] In a three-way race with a candidate from the Equal Rights Party, Johns defeated McCormick to retain his seat.[7] He died at Massac Hospital in Metropolis, Illinois.[8][9]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Illinois Blue Book 1957-1958. p. 320. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ McCormick, Mike (July 8, 2010). "Interview with Mike McCormick ISG-A-L-2010-028.1" (PDF). Jim Edgar Oral History Project (Interview). Interviewed by Mark DePue. Springfield, Illinois: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. p. 2. they just gave him C.L. My great-grandfather was Christian McCormick, my grandmother's maiden name was Lay, and my dad's brother's middle name was Howard Lay McCormick, so I always speculated that they didn't give him a name, but that's what those two kind of stood for; but I have no basis for that.
  3. ↑ McCormick, Mike (July 8, 2010). "Interview with Mike McCormick ISG-A-L-2010-028.1". Jim Edgar Oral History Project (Interview). Interviewed by Mark DePue. Springfield, Illinois: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. p. 4.
  4. ↑ von Liski, Randall R. (March 5, 1974). "Representatives reduction proposal made". The Daily Egyptian. Vol. 55, no. 116. p. 3. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via Southern Illinois University Carbondale OpenSIUC.
  5. ↑ Staff (December 5, 1974). "Area lawmakers vote". The Southeast Missourian. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via Google Newspapers.
  6. 1 2 Associated Press (October 30, 1981). "McCormick to Run". The Southeast Missourian. Retrieved November 17, 2023 – via Google Newspapers.
  7. ↑ Gherardini, Caroline, ed. (1982). "Board of Elections announces the newest legislative candidates". Illinois Issues. Sangamon State University. 8 (10): 34. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  8. ↑ 'Illinois Blue Book 1981-1982,' Biographical Sketch of C. L. McCormick, pg. 186
  9. ↑ 'C. L. McCormick dies; ex-state representative,' Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register, March 5, 1987, pg. 5


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