Robert Gilligan is an American politician. He was a Democratic member of the Delaware House of Representatives for over 40 years, where he also served as

Speaker of the House The speaker of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body, is its presiding officer, or the chair. The title was first used in 1377 in England. Usage The title was first recorded in 1377 to describe the role of Thomas de Hungerf ...

. Elected to the House in 1972, he was the longest-serving member of the legislature at the time of his retirement in 2013. He became Speaker in 2009 after Democrats took control of the House for the first time in 24 years. He had previously served as the

majority leader In U.S. politics (as well as in some other countries utilizing the presidential system), the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.

from 1983 to 1985,

minority whip The positions of majority leader and minority leader are held by two United States senators and members of the party leadership of the United States Senate. They serve as the chief spokespersons for their respective political parties holding t ...

from 1985 to 1995, and minority leader from 1995 to 2009. Gilligan obtained a BS in political science from Saint Joseph's College and a MA in education from

Villanova University Villanova University is a Private university, private Catholic church, Roman Catholic research university in Villanova, Pennsylvania. It was founded by the Order of Saint Augustine, Augustinians in 1842 and named after Thomas of Villanova, Sa ...

References

Living people Speakers of the Delaware House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the Delaware House of Representatives 21st-century American politicians Villanova University alumni Year of birth missing (living people) {{Delaware-politician-stub