George E. Sangmeister
Encyclopedia
George Edward Sangmeister (February 16, 1931 – October 7, 2007) was a former member of the United States House of Representatives
. He originally represented Illinois
' 4th District, before it was renumbered as the 11th district.
Sangmeister was born in Frankfort, Illinois
. He attended Joliet Junior College
before entering the military and serving in the Korean War
. After returning to private life, he attended Elmhurst College
and then earned a law degree from the John Marshall Law School
.
Sangmeister spent several years in private law practice before becoming a magistrate for Will County, Illinois
in 1961. In 1964, he became the county's district attorney.
In 1972, Sangmeister was elected as a Democrat
to the Illinois House of Representatives
. In 1976, after two terms in the state House, he was elected to the Illinois Senate
. Sangmeister became a powerful Democratic leader in the state Senate, and, in 1986, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. Adlai Stevenson III
chose Sangmeister as his running mate. However, Sangmeister lost to Lyndon LaRouche activist Mark Fairchild in the primary. When he declined to run in the fall as part of the Solidarity Party
, the third place contender in the primary, former Cook County judge Michael Howlett, Jr. replaced him. Stevenson-Howlett went down to defeat in the General Election.
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. He was replaced in Congress by Jerry Weller
. He returned to private law practice for several years thereafter. He died of leukemia
, aged 76.
Interred Oct. 11, 2007 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
in Elwood, Illinois
.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He originally represented Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
' 4th District, before it was renumbered as the 11th district.
Sangmeister was born in Frankfort, Illinois
Frankfort, Illinois
Frankfort is a village in Will and Cook Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 17,782 at the 2010 census. According to Forbes.com, in 2007 the village ranked as the 36th fastest growing suburb in the United States. - Previous spelling :...
. He attended Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College , a community college based in Joliet, Illinois, was the first public community college founded in the United States. JJC offers pre-baccalaureate programs for students planning to transfer to a four-year university, as well as occupational education leading directly to...
before entering the military and serving in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. After returning to private life, he attended Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College
Elmhurst College is a comprehensive private liberal arts college in Elmhurst, Illinois with a tradition of service-oriented learning. It has a rich affiliation with the United Church of Christ.- History :...
and then earned a law degree from the John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School may refer to:*John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois*John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia*Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio...
.
Sangmeister spent several years in private law practice before becoming a magistrate for Will County, Illinois
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
in 1961. In 1964, he became the county's district attorney.
In 1972, Sangmeister was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
. In 1976, after two terms in the state House, he was elected to the Illinois Senate
Illinois Senate
The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the state of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. The Illinois Senate is made up of 59 senators elected from...
. Sangmeister became a powerful Democratic leader in the state Senate, and, in 1986, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. Adlai Stevenson III
Adlai Stevenson III
Adlai Ewing Stevenson III is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He represented the state of Illinois in the United States Senate from 1970 until 1981.-Education, military service, and early career:...
chose Sangmeister as his running mate. However, Sangmeister lost to Lyndon LaRouche activist Mark Fairchild in the primary. When he declined to run in the fall as part of the Solidarity Party
Solidarity Party
The Solidarity Party was an American political party in the state of Illinois. It was named after Lech Wałęsa's Solidarity movement in Poland, which was widely-admired in Illinois at the time .The party was founded in 1986 by Senator Adlai Stevenson III in reaction to the Democratic Party's...
, the third place contender in the primary, former Cook County judge Michael Howlett, Jr. replaced him. Stevenson-Howlett went down to defeat in the General Election.
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. He was replaced in Congress by Jerry Weller
Jerry Weller
Gerald C. "Jerry" Weller is an American politician who was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing .- Early life:...
. He returned to private law practice for several years thereafter. He died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
, aged 76.
Interred Oct. 11, 2007 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery
The Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery covers in Elwood, Illinois. It is located approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois. When fully completed, it will provide 400,000 burial spaces....
in Elwood, Illinois
Elwood, Illinois
Elwood is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,300 at the 2006 population estimation.-Geography:Elwood is located at . The nearest major highways are Interstate 80 to the north and Interstate 55 to the west. The former Route 66 highway passes through the...
.