Richard B. Ogilvie
35th Governor of Illinois
In office January 13, 1969 – January 8, 1973
Lieutenant(s)	Paul Simon
Preceded by	Samuel H. Shapiro
Succeeded by	Daniel Walker
Born	February 22, 1923 Kansas City, Missouri
Died	May 10, 1988 (65) Chicago
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Dorthy Shriver
Profession	Lawyer and Politician
Religion	Presbyterian

Richard Buell Ogilvie (February 22, 1923–May 10, 1988) was an American political figure. He served as the governor of Illinois from 1969 to 1973. A wounded combat veteran of World War II, he achieved notoriety as the mafia-fighting Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois in the 1960s.

Education and Military service

He graduated high school in Port Chester, New York in 1940. While attending Yale, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1942. As a tank commander in France he was wounded and received the Purple Heart and two Battle Stars. Discharged in 1945, he resumed studies at Yale University and in 1947, he earned a Bachelor of Arts majoring in American history. In 1949, he earned a Bachelor of Laws from Chicago-Kent College of Law. From 1950 to 1950 he practiced Law in Chicago and served as an assistant United States Attorney from 1954-1955. From 1958 to 1961 he served as a special assistant to the United States Attorney General heading an office fighting organized crime in Chicago.^[1][2]

Pre-Gubernatorial political career

Ogilvie was elected as Cook county Sheriff in 1962 where he served until 1967. He was elected President of the Cook County Board of Commissioners and served from 1967 to 1969.^[1]

Anti-Gay Crusader

As Cook County Sheriff, Ogilvie became one of the first in a long line of Republican politicians to foster and inflame homophobia and gay panic for political purposes. With an eye on the governor's mansion, Ogilvie began a four year war against gays and lesbians in Chicago with continuous raids on gay bars; arresting hundreds for crimes such as same-sex dancing. Homosexuals were often arrested on loitering charges merely for being in the gay-friendly Clark and Diversey area. ^[3]

Governor of Illinois

He was elected governor as a Republican in 1968 against incumbent Democrat Sam Shapiro, taking 51.2% of the vote. His lieutenant governor was Democrat and future U.S. Senator Paul Simon, the first and only time that Illinois elected a Governor and Lt. Governor of opposite parties.^[1] However, on least two other occasions there was an acting Lt. Governor from the opposite party.^[4]

Bolstered by large Republican majorities in the state house, Ogilvie embarked upon a major modernization of state government. He successfully advocated for a state constitutional convention, increased social spending, and secured Illinois' first state income tax. The latter was particularly unpopular with the electorate, and Ogilvie lost a close election to the Daniel Walker in 1972, ending his career in elective office.

Transportation

He was also the Trustee that supervised the sale of the Milwaukee Road. In 1987, he was appointed by then-Secretary of Transportation Elizabeth Dole to chair a committee studying the proposed termination of Amtrak's federal subsidy.

After his death in Chicago May 10, 1988, Governor Ogilvie was cremated and interred in Rosehill Mausoleum, Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.

The Ogilvie Transportation Center, from which Chicago-area Metra commuter passenger trains leave for destinations on the former Chicago and North Western, is named in his honor. The modern railroad station uses the former C & NW trainshed.

References

Governors of Illinois
Bond • Coles • Edwards • Reynolds • Ewing • Duncan • Carlin • Ford • French • Matteson • Bissell • Wood • Yates • Oglesby • Palmer • Oglesby • Beveridge • Cullom • Hamilton • Oglesby • Fifer • Altgeld • Tanner • Yates • Deneen • Dunne • Lowden • Small • Emmerson • Horner • Stelle • Green • Stevenson • Stratton • Kerner • Shapiro • Ogilvie • Walker • Thompson • Edgar • Ryan • Blagojevich

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