Chicago Mayor. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 38th Mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1955 until his death in 1976. During his tenure, Daley held the distinction as being one of the most profiled mayors of a major city in the United States. Born to strict Irish-Catholic parents, his father worked in the sheet metal industry. Richard attended parochial school and later studied at the Christian Brothers De LaSalle High School. He received his Law degree from De Paul Law School and following graduation Daley initiated his career in the political arena locally. In 1936, he was elected to the Illinois State Senate and in 1949 Governor Adlai Stevenson appointed him Director of the Illinois Department of Finance. This was followed by his election to the position of Clerk of Cook County. In 1955, he defeated Democratic incumbent Martin H. Kennelly and later was victorious over Republican challenger Robert E. Merriman to become the 38 th Mayor of Chicago. During his tenure, he pushed for development of the city’s infrastructure, which included roadways, skyscrapers and expansion of O’Hare Airport. Additionally, the city’s mass transit system was updated and improved. In 1960, Daley played a key role in the election of John F. Kennedy. Chicago became an important factor in Kennedy’s victory in the State of Illinois. In August of 1968, the Daley Administration was dealt a negative blow on the national level when the police force dressed in riot gear clashed with protesters of the Vietnam War during the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago. In spite of this, Daley’s popularity rose during the early 1970s Chicago maintained a financially viable budget while other major American cities faced bankruptcy. In 1975, he was elected to a sixth four-year term. He died suddenly from a heart attack on December 20, 1976. His son Richard M. Daley went on to serve as Mayor of Chicago from 1989 until 2011.

Chicago Mayor. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 38th Mayor of Chicago, Illinois from 1955 until his death in 1976. During his tenure, Daley held the distinction as being one of the most profiled mayors of a major city in the United States. Born to strict Irish-Catholic parents, his father worked in the sheet metal industry. Richard attended parochial school and later studied at the Christian Brothers De LaSalle High School. He received his Law degree from De Paul Law School and following graduation Daley initiated his career in the political arena locally. In 1936, he was elected to the Illinois State Senate and in 1949 Governor Adlai Stevenson appointed him Director of the Illinois Department of Finance. This was followed by his election to the position of Clerk of Cook County. In 1955, he defeated Democratic incumbent Martin H. Kennelly and later was victorious over Republican challenger Robert E. Merriman to become the 38 th Mayor of Chicago. During his tenure, he pushed for development of the city’s infrastructure, which included roadways, skyscrapers and expansion of O’Hare Airport. Additionally, the city’s mass transit system was updated and improved. In 1960, Daley played a key role in the election of John F. Kennedy. Chicago became an important factor in Kennedy’s victory in the State of Illinois. In August of 1968, the Daley Administration was dealt a negative blow on the national level when the police force dressed in riot gear clashed with protesters of the Vietnam War during the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago. In spite of this, Daley’s popularity rose during the early 1970s Chicago maintained a financially viable budget while other major American cities faced bankruptcy. In 1975, he was elected to a sixth four-year term. He died suddenly from a heart attack on December 20, 1976. His son Richard M. Daley went on to serve as Mayor of Chicago from 1989 until 2011.

Bio by: C.S.