Jim Edgar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Edgar
|
|
---|---|
![]() Edgar in 2013
|
|
38th Governor of Illinois | |
In office January 14, 1991 – January 11, 1999 |
|
Lieutenant | Bob Kustra |
Preceded by | James R. Thompson |
Succeeded by | George Ryan |
35th Secretary of State of Illinois | |
In office January 12, 1981 – January 14, 1991 |
|
Governor | James R. Thompson |
Preceded by | Alan J. Dixon |
Succeeded by | George Ryan |
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 53rd district |
|
In office 1977–1979 Serving with Charles M. "Chuck" Campbell, Larry Stuffle
|
|
Preceded by | Max E. Coffey Robert "Bob" Craig |
Succeeded by | Harry Woodyard |
Personal details | |
Born | Vinita, Oklahoma, U.S. |
July 22, 1946
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Brenda Smith |
Education | Eastern Illinois University |
James Edgar (born July 22, 1946) is an American politician who was the 38th governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999. Previously he served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1976 to 1979 and as Illinois Secretary of State from 1981 to 1991. Though still popular, he surprised many by retiring from elected office after his second term as governor, claiming that heart problems he had during his tenure as governor were not a factor in his decision.
Post governorship
Edgar is a distinguished fellow of the Institute of Government & Public Affairs at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois.
Edgar was named the honorary chairman of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration at Eureka College, President Reagan's alma mater. To open the Reagan Centennial year in January 2011, Governor Edgar delivered the keynote speech at the concluding dinner of the "Reagan and the Midwest" academic conference held at Eureka College. In September 2011, Edgar helped dedicate the Mark R. Shenkman Reagan Research Center housed in the Eureka College library.
As former chairman of the board of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, Edgar underwrote the costs of the traveling trophy for the annual Lincoln Bowl tradition started in 2012. The Lincoln Bowl celebrates the Lincoln connection with Knox College and Eureka College, two Illinois colleges where Lincoln spoke, and is awarded to the winning team each time the two schools play each other in football.
In July 2016, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Illinois Financing Partners, a firm for which Edgar served as chairman, won approval by the state to advance money to state vendors who had been waiting for payments by the state. In turn, the firm would get to keep late payment fees when Illinois finally pays.
Awards
Jim Edgar was inducted as a Laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln (the State's highest honor) by the Governor of Illinois in 1999 in the area of Government.
![]() | Hypatia |
![]() | Agnodice |
![]() | Aglaonice |
![]() | Mary the Jewess |