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Jack Davis (Illinois politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the western New York politician, see Jack Davis (industrialist).
For other people with the same name, see Jack Davis (disambiguation).
Jack Davis
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Illinois's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1989
Preceded byGeorge M. O'Brien
Succeeded byGeorge Sangmeister
Member of the
Illinois House of Representatives
In office
1977-1987
Preceded byGeorge Sangmeister
Succeeded byLarry Wennlund
Personal details
Born
Jack Bender

(1935-09-06)September 6, 1935
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 4, 2018(2018-02-04) (aged 82)
Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseVirginia "Ginny" Davis
Alma materSouthern Illinois University
Professionbusinessman
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1956–1959
RankLieutenant

Jack Davis (September 6, 1935 – February 4, 2018) was a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1976 to 1986, and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 to 1989 representing Illinois' 4th U.S. Congressional District.

Early life and career

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Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 6, 1935, to Edna (née Haflei) and Russell Bender. His biological father died when he was a child and his mother got remarried to Melcher "M.C." Davis, who adopted Jack.[1] He graduated valedictorian from Woodlawn High School in 1952. He then attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he earned a Bachelor of Science in education in 1956. After graduation, he joined the United States Navy. He served as a flying officer, reaching the rank of Lieutenant (junior grade). He was released from active duty in 1959. He did graduate work in psychology while working for the State of Illinois as the assistant director of a job training center in Decatur, Illinois.

After one year, he left that position to enter the steel industry, eventually becoming the part-owner of Lexington Steel Corp, a steel processing warehouse he founded in 1969. He sold his stake in Lexington Steel in 1975 to focus on his political career.[2] Davis moved to Crete, Illinois after entering the steel industry. He became involved with the Will County Republican Party as a precinct committeeman and served one term as a village trustee from 1969-1973.[3] He married Virginia "Ginny" Griffin of Shelbyville, Illinois, with whom he had three children.[1]

State legislature

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In 1976, State Representative George Sangmeister ran for the Illinois Senate creating an open seat in the 42nd district in the Illinois House of Representatives.In that year's general election, Davis was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives as one of three representatives from the 42nd district alongside two incumbents; fellow Republican Harry Leinenweber and Democrat LeRoy Van Duyne.[4] The 42nd district included most of Will County.[5] Davis was an opponent of the Equal Rights Amendment.[6] Davis served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. After the 1982 general election, Davis ran for House Minority Leader, ultimately losing to Lee A. Daniels.[7] At the start of the 83rd Illinois General Assembly, Daniels named Davis an assistant minority leader.[8] After he was nominated to run for Congress, the vacancy for the Republican nomination in the 84th district was filled by Larry Wennlund, who would go on to win the general election.[9]

While in the state legislature, Davis continued his involvement in Republican Party affairs and was a delegate pledged to the 1980 Ronald Reagan Presidential campaign and in 1984 became the chairman the Will County Republican Party.[10][11]

U.S. Congress

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On May 16th, 1986, incumbent Republican Congressman George M. O'Brien withdrew as the Republican nominee in the 1986 election. The various precinct and township committeeman in Illinois's 4th congressional district, a group which included Davis, nominated Davis to the vacancy.[12] In the general election, Davis faced 28 year old attorney/CPA and Democratic nominee Shawn Collins.[13][14] Davis defeated Collins by a surprisingly narrow margin with 61,583 votes to Collins' 57,773 votes. Collins was able to win their shared home county of Will and also win Kane, while Davis won the portions of the district in Cook and Kendall counties.[15]

He served one term, 1987 to 1989. Davis voted against the Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1987.[16] The Act asserts United States title to certain abandoned shipwrecks located on or embedded in submerged lands under state jurisdiction, and transfers title to the respective state, thereby empowering states to manage these cultural and historical resources more efficiently, with the goal of preventing treasure hunters and salvagers from damaging them. President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on April 28, 1988.[17]

He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1988, losing to the Democratic candidate, George E. Sangmeister.

After Congress

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Davis served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Readiness and Resources from 1990 to 1992; he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for activities in northern Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In the early to mid 2000s, Davis hosted a radio show, Davis and Company, on 970 WMAY in Springfield, Illinois. Davis died on February 4, 2018, at his home in Springfield, Illinois, from complications of dementia.[18][1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jack D. Davis-obituary
  2. ^ Illinois Blue Book 1977-1978. p. 151. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  3. ^ Day, William L., ed. (June 1976). "November lineup for downstate House". Illinois Issues. 2 (6). Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University: 17. ISSN 0738-9663. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  4. ^ Czerwinski, Ed (November 4, 1976). "First Democrat Makes History". Park Forest South Star. Vol. 5, no. 72. p. 1. Retrieved April 15, 2025 – via Wikipedia Library.
  5. ^ Illinois Blue Book 1977-1978. p. 58. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  6. ^ Day, William L., ed. (October 1, 1978). "Downstate candidates for Illinois House". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. p. 10.
  7. ^ Daniels, Lee (November 3, 2011). "Interview with Lee Daniels ISL-A-L-2011-053.01" (PDF) (Interview). Interviewed by Mark DePue. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. pp. 73–74. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  8. ^ Tipton Jr, Virgil E. (ed.). "83rd General Assembly: Some Of The Key Members Serving You". Illinois Parks & Recreation. Vol. 14, no. 2. Illinois Association of Park Districts and Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  9. ^ "November Elections Crucial to Further Tort Reform". Illinois Medical Journal. 170 (3). Chicago: Ilinois State Medical Society: 129–130. 1986. Retrieved April 15, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  10. ^ Illinois Blue Book 1985-1986. pp. 105 and 390. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  11. ^ "Briefings for Campaign Appearances March 13th to 17th 1980" (PDF). Ronald Reagan: Campaign Papers 1965-80. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. March 15, 1980. p. 20. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  12. ^ Gherardini, Caroline (ed.). "State Reps. Hastert, Ryan candidates for Congress". Illinois Issues. 12 (9). Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University: 68. ISSN 0738-9663. Archived from the original on May 15, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2025 – via Illinois Periodicals Online.
  13. ^ "Davis, Collins Go For The Gold In 4th Congressional District". Manhattan American. Vol. 41, no. 25. Manhattan, Illinois. October 29, 1986. p. 13. Retrieved April 15, 2025 – via Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.
  14. ^ DeMuth, Audrey (November 12, 1986). "Davis Manages Win In 4th; Weller Edges Christensen". Manhattan American. Vol. 41, no. 27. Manhattan, Illinois. p. 16. Retrieved April 15, 2025 – via Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections.
  15. ^ Michaelson, Ronald (Executive Director) (April 2, 1987). Official Vote Cast at the General Election November 4, 1986. Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 29. Retrieved April 15, 2025 – via Internet Archive.
  16. ^ "TO SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS S 858, ABANDONED SHIPWRECK … -- House Vote #532 -- March 29, 1988". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
  17. ^ "Laws - Division of Historical Resources - Florida Department of State". dos.fl.gov. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
  18. ^ 'Former Congressman, state Rep. Jack Davis dead at 82,' The State Journal-Register, Bernard Schoenburg, February 5, 2018
[edit]
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by U.S. Representative of Illinois' 4th Congressional District
1987-1989 		Succeeded by
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