John J. Gilligan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John J. Gilligan
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| 62nd Governor of Ohio | |
| In office January 11, 1971 – January 13, 1975 |
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| Lieutenant | John Brown |
| Preceded by | Jim Rhodes |
| Succeeded by | Jim Rhodes |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio's 1st district |
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| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Carl Rich |
| Succeeded by | Robert Taft Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Joyce Gilligan
March 22, 1921 Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | August 26, 2013 (aged 92) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses |
Mary Kathryn Dixon
(m. 1945; Susan Fremont
(m. 2000) |
| Relations | K. Gary Sebelius (son-in-law) |
| Children | 4; including Kathleen |
| Alma mater | University of Notre Dame University of Cincinnati |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
John Joyce “Jack” Gilligan (March 22, 1921 – August 26, 2013) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Gilligan served as a U.S. Representative for Ohio. He was also the 62nd governor of Ohio from 1971 to 1975.
John Gilligan was the father of Kathleen Sebelius. She later became the governor of Kansas. She also served as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Gilligan was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on March 22, 1921. His father, Harry Gilligan, ran a funeral home. John had a twin sister named Jeanne. His family was Irish Catholic.
He went to St. Xavier High School. He graduated from there in 1939. After high school, he attended the University of Notre Dame. He earned his degree in 1943.
Military Service in World War II
During World War II, John Gilligan joined the United States Navy. He served from 1942 to 1945. He was a gunnery officer on a destroyer. He served in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean seas.
After the war, he continued his education. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1947.
Political Career
After his military service, Gilligan returned to Cincinnati. He taught literature at Xavier University. He taught there from 1948 to 1953.
Serving Cincinnati and Ohio
From 1953 to 1963, Gilligan served on the Cincinnati city council. This meant he helped make decisions for the city. In 1962, he tried to become a Congressman for Ohio.
In 1964, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Ohio's 1st district. He served in Congress from January 3, 1965, to January 3, 1967.
He lost his re-election bid in 1966. His district boundaries were changed. This made it harder for him to win. In 1968, he ran for the United States Senate. He won the Democratic primary election. However, he lost the main election.
Governor of Ohio
John Gilligan was elected governor of Ohio in 1970. He served as governor from 1971 to 1975. A major achievement during his time was creating Ohio's state income tax. This tax helped fund public services.
He hoped to win a second term as governor. However, he lost the 1974 election to former governor Jim Rhodes. It was a very close election. Many believed that big businesses did not like his policies. This led them to support his opponent.
Later Public Service
After being governor, Gilligan continued to serve. From 1977 to 1979, he led the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This agency helps other countries.
In 1980, he joined the board of Common Cause. This group works to make government better. He also taught at the University of Notre Dame from 1986 to 1992. Later, he directed a civic issues forum at the University of Cincinnati School of Law.
In 1999, Gilligan was elected to the Board of Education for Cincinnati Public Schools. He helped guide the city's schools. He served until 2007.
Family Life
John Gilligan had four children. One of his daughters is Kathleen Sebelius. She became the governor of Kansas. She also served as a U.S. Secretary.
John and Kathleen became the first father and daughter to both serve as governors in the United States.
Death
John Gilligan passed away at his home in Cincinnati. He died on August 26, 2013. He was 92 years old. His son said he died from heart failure.
UFO Sighting
On October 17, 1973, while he was governor, Gilligan reported seeing a UFO. He was driving near Ann Arbor, Michigan. He told reporters, "I saw one (UFO) the other night, so help me. I'm absolutely serious. I saw this."
Legacy
The Gilligan Complex is located at the Ohio Expo Center. This is where the State Fair is held in Columbus, Ohio. The complex is named in honor of John Gilligan.
See also
- List of United States representatives from Ohio
- List of governors of Ohio
