Philip J. Rock | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, circa. 1979 | |
| President of the Illinois Senate | |
| In office January 1979 (1979-01) – January 1993 (1993-01) | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Hynes |
| Succeeded by | James "Pate" Philip |
| Member of theIllinois Senate from the 8th district | |
| In office January 1971 (1971-01) – January 1993 (1993-01) | |
| Preceded by | Thomas A. McGloon |
| Succeeded by | Howard Carroll(redistricted) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1937-05-04)May 4, 1937 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | January 29, 2016(2016-01-29) (aged 78) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Sheila Graber |
| Children | 4 |
| Residence(s) | Chicago, Illinois (1937-1977) Oak Park, Illinois (1977-2016) |
| Alma mater | University of Saint Mary of the Lake Loyola Universityl |
| Profession | Attorney |
Philip J. Rock (May 4, 1937 – January 29, 2016) was an American politician, and a long timeDemocratic member of theIllinois Senate who represented parts of theWest Side of Chicago andOak Park. During his time in the Senate, he became the longest servingPresident of the Illinois Senate with a fourteen-year tenure serving from 1979 to 1993.[1]
Rock was born on May 4, 1937, and raised inLogan Square, Chicago. He received both his bachelor's degree in philosophy and his master's degree in theology from theUniversity of Saint Mary of the Lake, and in 1964 graduated fromLoyola University School of Law. He served as an Assistant Attorney General underWilliam G. Clark from 1965 until 1969 when he went to work for theCook County State's Attorney.[2][3]
Rock was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1970 to succeedThomas A. McGloon, who ran for and won a judgeship. After one term, he was named assistant minority leader and after the Democrats won back the Senate during a Democratic wave year in 1974, assistant majority leader.[4] During his time in the Senate, the Illinois Deaf-Blind Service Center and School was established and theRegional Transportation Authority was created.[2][5]
In 1979, Rock became President of the Illinois State Senate.[6] After the 1991 decennial redistricting, the district that numerically was the 8th was represented by north side legislatorHoward W. Carroll while his district was divided between several other districts.[7]
In 1996, Rock was appointed to theIllinois Board of Higher Education and became its chair in April 1999. He stepped down from the board in April 2002.[8]
In 2012, Rock published his autobiography,Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello, co-authored with Ed Wojcicki.
On January 29, 2016, he died at the age of 78.[9] At the time of his death, he hadLewy body dementia.[10]
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