Master Surname Index




Jim Edgar

Ancestry of
Jim Edgar

38th Governor of Illinois


    James R. Edgar

    View famous kin of James R. Edgar

    • 1st Generation
    • Ahnentafel No:
    • Birth Date:
    • 22 Jul 1946 
    • Birth Location:
    • Vinita, Craig, Oklahoma 
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    • Notes: 
    • 38th Governor of Illinois

      Jim Edgar is a former American politician who served as the Governor of Illinois from 1991 to 1999. He was born on July 22, 1946, in Vinita, Oklahoma, but was raised in Charleston, Illinois.

      Edgar attended Eastern Illinois University and earned a bachelor's degree in history in 1968. After graduation, he worked as a legislative aide for the Illinois General Assembly before being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1976. He served in the House for ten years before being elected Secretary of State in 1982.

      As Secretary of State, Edgar was known for his successful efforts to crack down on drunk driving and instituting mandatory automobile insurance. In 1990, he ran for Governor and won, defeating his Democratic opponent by a wide margin.

      As Governor, Edgar focused on education, economic development, and environmental protection. He successfully pushed for increased funding for schools and the creation of the Illinois State Board of Education. He also oversaw the expansion of the state's highway system and the creation of the Illinois Clean Air Act.

      After leaving office in 1999, Edgar served as a distinguished fellow at the University of Illinois Institute of Government and Public Affairs.

  • Marriages for James R. Edgar


    • Spouse:
    • Brenda Smith

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