C.L. McCormick (December 1, 1919 – March 1, 1987) was an American politician and businessman.

Early life

C.L. McCormick was born in

McCormick, Illinois McCormick is an unincorporated community in Pope County, Illinois, United States. Jackson Falls Jackson Falls is a seasonal waterfall within Shawnee National Forest. The sandstone bluffs of the shut-in are best known as a venue for rock climbin ...

, an unincorporated community in

Pope County, Illinois Pope County is the southeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 3,763, making it the second-least populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Golconda. The county was organize ...

. C.L. was his full first name, possibly inspired by his grandfather Christian and his grandmother's maiden name Lay. He went to the

Vienna, Illinois Vienna ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Illinois, United States, and it is the site of two well-known state penitentiaries. The population of Vienna was 1,434 at the 2010 census. History Vienna was originally an Indian t ...

public schools and was elected to the Vienna, Illinois City Council. He served in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

for forty-six months. After the war, he owned a taxi, merchandise, and restaurant business in Vienna, Illinois. In 1950, McCormick challenged the longtime incumbent county clerk of Johnson County in the Republican primary and was elected in that year's general election. He was reelected in 1954.

Legislative career

He served in the

Illinois House of Representatives The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The House under the current constitution as amended in 1980 consists of 118 re ...

from 1957 to 1975. He chose to retire rather than run for reelection in 1974. He was succeeded by fellow Republican Robert Winchester while fellow incumbents

Clyde L. Choate Clyde Lee Choate (June 28, 1920 – October 5, 2001) was an American politician from Southern Illinois and a decorated soldier. The Anna, Illinois, resident served 30 years in the Illinois House of Representatives. As a sergeant in the United ...

and Richard O. Hart were reelected. He returned to politics, defeating Democratic incumbent

William L. Harris William L. Harris (August 30, 1923 – July 1, 2013) was an American businessman and politician. Harris was born in Marion, Illinois, and went to the Marion public schools. He took classes in administrative management at the University of Chic ...

in the 1980 general election. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives again from 1981 to 1983. In 1981, he announced his decision to challenge Democratic incumbent

Gene Johns Harold Gene Johns (October 6, 1927 – August 11, 1984) was an American politician and Democratic member of the Illinois Senate. Early life and career Johns was born in Carrier Mills, Illinois October 6, 1927 to Columbus Johns, an employee of ...

for the

Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the Upper house, upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state, State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adop ...

after the latter had been indicted for violating campaign contribution disclosure laws. In a three-way race with a candidate from the Equal Rights Party, Johns defeated McCormick to retain his seat. He died at Massac Hospital in

Metropolis, Illinois Metropolis is a city located along the Ohio River in Massac County, Illinois, United States. It has a population of 6,537 according to the 2010 United States Census. Metropolis is the county seat of Massac County and is part of the Paducah, K ...

.'C. L. McCormick dies; ex-state representative,' Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register, March 5, 1987, pg. 5

Notes

1919 births 1987 deaths People from Pope County, Illinois People from Vienna, Illinois Military personnel from Illinois Businesspeople from Illinois Illinois city council members Republican Party members of the Illinois House of Representatives 20th-century American legislators United States Army personnel of World War II 20th-century American businesspeople 20th-century Illinois politicians {{Illinois-Ilrepresentative-stub