Robert E. Brinkmeier (May 20, 1922 – March 9, 2007) was an American politician, businessman and educator who served as aDemocratic member of theIllinois House of Representatives from 1967 to 1977.
Brinkmeier was born on a farm nearPearl City inStephenson County, Illinois. He attended Shannon High School inCarroll County, Illinois. He served in theUnited States Army Air Forces duringWorld War II. He received his bachelor's degree fromBradley University and his master's degree fromNorthern Illinois University. He was a teacher, coach, and athletic director at several high schools. Brinkmeier was also in the insurance business and lived inFreeport, Illinois.[1]
In 1964, he ran for theUnited States House of Representatives inIllinois's 16th congressional district against Republican incumbentJohn B. Anderson. Brinkmeier lost receiving 43.6% of the vote to Anderson's 56.4%. Two years later, Brinkmeier was elected to theIllinois House of Representatives in 1966 as one of three members from the 35th district along with RepublicansMerle K. Anderson andRobert Law.[2]
In 1976, he was appointed to the Advisory Committee on the Compensation of General Assembly.[3] That same year, Brinkmeier was unable to secure reelection losing toRepublican incumbentHarlan Rigney, Democratic incumbentRichard Mulcahey, and Republican candidateHarold Adams.[4]
After his loss, he was appointed a motor carrier auditor with theIllinois Secretary of State. He held this job, which involved auditing books of Illinois trucking companies who do business outside of the state,[5] until 1979 when he became assistant superintendent of theIllinois State Fair.[6] In 1983,Neil Hartigan hired Brinkmeier to serve as Legislative Director in theOffice of the Illinois Attorney General.[7]
Brinkmeier died at Memorial Health Center inSpringfield, Illinois in 2007.[8]
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