William Stratton
Encyclopedia
William Grant Stratton (February 26, 1914 – March 2, 2001), known as "Billy the Kid", was the 32nd Governor of the U.S. state
of Illinois
from 1953 to 1961, succeeding Adlai Stevenson II in that office. He was born on in Ingleside
in Lake County, Illinois
, the son of William J. Stratton, an Illinois politician, and Zula Van Wormer Stratton, he served two non-consecutive terms as an at-large Congressman from Illinois, elected in 1940 and 1946. He was elected Illinois State Treasurer
in 1944 and 1950. He won the Republican nomination for governor in 1952, then defeated Lt. Governor Sherwood Dixon
to become the youngest governor in America
at that time.
In 1960, Governor Stratton ran for an unprecedented third-consecutive term but was defeated by Otto Kerner, Jr.
He was acquitted of charges of tax evasion
in 1965.
In 1968 he ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois and was defeated by Richard B. Ogilvie
.
In retirement, Stratton resided in Chicago.
At the time of his death, he was a member of the Illinois Civil Service Commission. He died at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital
in Chicago, Illinois on March 2, 2001, aged 87. Among his pall bearers were his successors as Governor, James R. Thompson
, Jim Edgar
, and George H. Ryan.
The following are named in his honor:
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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,...
from 1953 to 1961, succeeding Adlai Stevenson II in that office. He was born on in Ingleside
Ingleside, Illinois
Ingleside is an unincorporated community in Lake County, Illinois, United States. Ingleside is between Fox Lake, Round Lake Heights and Lake Villa.-Geography:Ingleside is on Squaw Creek between Long Lake, Duck Lake, and Fox Lake....
in Lake County, Illinois
Lake County, Illinois
Lake County is a county in the northeastern corner of the state of Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 703,462, which is an increase of 9.2% from 644,356 in 2000. Its county seat is Waukegan. The county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area...
, the son of William J. Stratton, an Illinois politician, and Zula Van Wormer Stratton, he served two non-consecutive terms as an at-large Congressman from Illinois, elected in 1940 and 1946. He was elected Illinois State Treasurer
Illinois State Treasurer
The Treasurer of Illinois is an elected official of the U.S. state of Illinois. The office was created by the Constitution of Illinois.-Current occupant and duties:, the Treasurer of Illinois is Dan Rutherford, a member of the Republican Party...
in 1944 and 1950. He won the Republican nomination for governor in 1952, then defeated Lt. Governor Sherwood Dixon
Sherwood Dixon
John Sherwood Dixon was an American politician from Illinois, member of the Democratic Party.Born in Dixon...
to become the youngest governor in America
Governor (United States)
In the United States, the title governor refers to the chief executive of each state or insular territory, not directly subordinate to the federal authorities, but the political and ceremonial head of the state.-Role and powers:...
at that time.
In 1960, Governor Stratton ran for an unprecedented third-consecutive term but was defeated by Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr.
Otto Kerner, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. He is best known for chairing the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and for accepting bribes....
He was acquitted of charges of tax evasion
Tax evasion
Tax evasion is the general term for efforts by individuals, corporations, trusts and other entities to evade taxes by illegal means. Tax evasion usually entails taxpayers deliberately misrepresenting or concealing the true state of their affairs to the tax authorities to reduce their tax liability,...
in 1965.
In 1968 he ran in the Republican primary for Governor of Illinois and was defeated by Richard B. Ogilvie
Richard B. Ogilvie
Richard Buell Ogilvie was the 35th Governor of Illinois from 1969 to 1973. A wounded combat veteran of World War II, he achieved fame as the mafia-fighting Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois in the 1960s....
.
In retirement, Stratton resided in Chicago.
At the time of his death, he was a member of the Illinois Civil Service Commission. He died at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the nation's preeminent academic medical centers and is the primary teaching hospital for Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. It is the second tallest hospital in the United States and the fourth tallest hospital in the world...
in Chicago, Illinois on March 2, 2001, aged 87. Among his pall bearers were his successors as Governor, James R. Thompson
James R. Thompson
James Robert Thompson, Jr. , also known as Big Jim Thompson, was the 37th and longest serving Governor of the US state of Illinois...
, Jim Edgar
Jim Edgar
James Edgar is an American politician who was the 38th Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999 and Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. As a moderate Republican in a largely blue-leaning state, Edgar was a popular and successful governor, leaving office with high approval ratings...
, and George H. Ryan.
The following are named in his honor:
- William G. Stratton Lock and Dam on the Fox River (Illinois)Fox River (Illinois River tributary)The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
near McHenry, IllinoisMcHenry, IllinoisMcHenry is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. In 2005, its population was estimated to be 24,631. McHenry was at one time the county seat of McHenry County... - William G. Stratton State ParkWilliam G. Stratton State ParkWilliam G. Stratton State Park is an Illinois state park in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. It is named after Illinois Governor William Stratton, and was developed in 1959. It is possessed of a jet-ski landing area, and it is bounded by the Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail....
on the Illinois RiverIllinois RiverThe Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
in Morris, IllinoisMorris, IllinoisMorris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census.Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area... - William G. Stratton Building (formerly State Office Building) in the Illinois State CapitolIllinois State CapitolThe Illinois State Capitol, located in Springfield, Illinois, is the building that houses the executive and legislative branches of the government of the U.S. state of Illinois. The current building is the sixth capitol of the state since its admission as a state of the United States in 1818. The...
complex, which houses offices of many state legislators and other state agencies and was completed during his first term as governor