Bill Redmond was born in Chicago on November 25, 1908. At the age of 5, he became a child model on the packages of Little Sun Maid Raisins.[1]
After graduating high school, he attended Marquette University where he earned a bachelor of engineering. In 1934, he graduated from Northwestern University's School of Law where he was a member of the Young Democrats.[2]
His first job out of college was at the firm of Loesch, Scofield, Loesch and Burke. He continued there until he entered the United States Navy as a Lieutenant, junior grade at the outbreak of World War II.[2] He served in Naval Intelligence and as a Naval Security officer.[1] He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander.[2]
After the war, he returned to practicing law and became the first attorney in Bensenville, Illinois. His experiences during the Great Depression having made him a staunch Democrat, he became involved in the small Democratic Party of largely Republican DuPage County, eventually becoming its chairman in 1968.[3][4] In 1948, after encouragement from Paul Douglas and Adlai Stevenson he ran for DuPage County State's Attorney and received the highest vote total of anyone up to that time, but lost.[5] He made his second run for office in 1950 when he ran for county judge.[2]
The 1960 reapportionment process was stalled by partisan gridlock. Subsequently, the Illinois Supreme Court ordered an at large election for all 177 members of the Illinois House in 1964. Voters were given ballots three feet long.[9] After a 1965 Illinois Supreme Court Case to resolve the redistricting issue, Redmond's home was drawn into the 37th district which consisted of York, Addison, Bloomingdale and Wayne townships along with the City of West Chicago in Winfield Township. He was reelected as one of the district's three representatives with Gene L. Hoffman and Pate Philip.[10]
He sponsored many pieces of legislation during his tenure including the creation of an Equality of Economic Opportunity Commission, created the Illinois State Board of Education,[2] and advocated for increased mass transportation for his suburban district.[1] He helped to create the South Suburban Transit Authority and the Regional Transportation Authority.[11]
1975 Speaker election
In 1975, Mayor Richard J. Daley supported Democratic leader Clyde L. Choate of Anna. Governor Dan Walker objected to Choate for personal reasons and supported Gerald A. Bradley of Bloomington. J. Glenn Schneider of Naperville, a legislator from Redmond's DuPage County, had reservations about a Choate speakership. He drafted Redmond to run for Speaker. No candidate, which at various points in time included up to eleven Democrats and the Republican leader James R. Washburn could get the 89 votes required to be elected Speaker.
After days of ballots, Daley and Walker finally chose Redmond as a compromise candidate as he was the only candidate no one could object to who had the experience to preside over the House. Choate refused to drop out and, with a small group of Democrats, held out against Redmond as the Democratic compromise choice. Over a week after the election for Speaker began; newly elected Republican Lee A. Daniels crossed party lines to vote for Redmond. After Daniels vote, a weekend recess was called. On Monday, Daniels and a small group of Republicans cast their votes for Redmond. This block included five Chicagoans, Daniels and Gene A. Hoffman; the latter two of whom were from Redmond's district.[12][13]
Speaker of the House
Redmond became a respected legislator on both sides of the aisle and during the 79th General Assembly; he was elected Speaker of the House as a compromise candidate. His election was made possible by the defection of freshman representative and future speaker Lee A. Daniels from his party.[5]
As Speaker, he took a hands off approach with legislation and toured areas of downstate Illinois that may have otherwise not met anyone from the Democratic leadership.[11] He became the first Democrat to be elected Speaker for three terms.[2]
In December 1981, Redmond chose to retire after twenty four years in the Illinois House. Longtime Democratic activist and attorney Hubert J. "Bud" Loftus of Addison was appointed to replace him.[14][15]
Post assembly life and legacy
After stepping down from the legislature, Redmond was appointed to the Illinois Prison Review Board by Governor James R. Thompson.[1] Redmond retired from the practice of law in 1986.[16] In April 1992, he stepped down as the longtime chair of the DuPage County Democratic Party.[17] He died in December of that year.[1] The Redmond Recreational Complex in his hometown of Bensenville is named after him.[18]
^Mehler, Neil; Elmer, John (January 26, 1975). "Fought hard for Redmond the Speaker fight is a victory for reform". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois.
