Richard Elrod
Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court
In office
August 1988 – April 19, 2014
Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois
In office
1970–1986
Preceded byJoseph I. Woods
Succeeded byJames E. O'Grady
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1969–1970
Personal details
Born(1934-02-17)February 17, 1934
Chicago, Illinois
DiedApril 19, 2014(2014-04-19) (aged 80)
Chicago, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic Party
Alma materNorthwestern University

Richard J. Elrod (February 17, 1934 – April 19, 2014) was an American jurist, sheriff, and legislator.

Biography

Born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, Elrod received his bachelor's and law degrees from Northwestern University.

Elrod's father was Arthur X. Elrod, a Democratic Party operative who would go on to serve as a Cook County Commissioner and Chicago's 25th ward's committeeman.[1][2]

Elrod was Chicago's Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1958 through 1970, and its Chief City Prosecutor from 1960 through 1970.[3]

Elrod served in the Illinois House of Representatives, in 1969, as a Democrat. While serving in the Illinois General Assembly, Elrod was seriously injured and left paralyzed while helping a Chicago police officer capture a man during the Days of Rage conflict in 1969.

Elrod was elected Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois in 1970, defeating Republican nominee Bernard Carey.[4] He would serve four terms. He was reelected thrice, first in 1974 (defeating Republican Peter Bensinger), then in 1978 (defeating Republican Donald Mulack), then in 1982 (defeating Republican Joseph Kozenczak).[5][6][7] In 1986, he lost reelection to Republican James E. O'Grady.[8]

From 1986 until 1988, he worked as the Senior Assistant Attorney General,[3] working under Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan.

Elrod was then appointed as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County in August 1988, where he continued to serve until his death in 2014.[3] He died of cancer in Chicago, Illinois.[9][10]

Personal life

In 1955, he married Marilyn Mann; they had two children: Steven Elrod and Audrey Elrod Lakin. After his death, services were held at Temple Am Shalom in Glencoe, Illinois.[11] His sister was Gloria Sheppard Bliss.

Elrod appears as a character in Saul Bellow's 1982 novel The Dean's December, both for the Days of Rage injury he received early in the novel and later in the protagonist Albert Corde's friendship during Elrod's career as Sheriff of Cook County.

Notes

  1. ↑ Goldsborough, Bob (21 April 2014). "Former Cook sheriff, judge Richard Elrod dies". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "Chicago's 24th ward: politics the old fashioned way". Chicago Now. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 "Richard Elrod". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Goldsborough, Bob (21 April 2014). "Former Cook sheriff, judge Richard Elrod dies". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Chicago Tribune, 11/7/1974
  6. ↑ Chicago Tribune, 11/9/1978
  7. ↑ Chicago Tribune, 11/4/1982
  8. ↑ O`Connor, Matt (8 November 1990). "GOP'S HOPES FOR O'GRADY GO SOUR". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  9. ↑ 'Former Cook County Sheriff Richard J Elrod dies at 80' Chicago Sun-Times, Mitch Dudek, April 21, 2014
  10. ↑ 'Illinois Blue Book 1969-1970,' Biographical Sketch of Richard J. Elrod, pg. 214-215
  11. ↑ "Hon. Richard J. Elrod, Cook County Circuit Judge and dedicated and beloved civic leader and public servant, passed away at the age of 80". Chicago Tribune. April 21, 2014.


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