Former mayor Rich Buchanan dies

Posted on April 1, 2021
Buchanan was a “common sense individual” who used his sense of humor to bring levity to tense situations (PHOTO: McLean CO. Museum of History)

 

BLOOMINGTON –  Former Bloomington Mayor Rich Buchanan has died.

He was 81 and suffered from Alzheimers disease in recent years.

Buchanan served two terms as mayor from 1977 to 1985. Before that, Buchanan was elected to two terms as alderman.

His public service wasn’t over after leaving city government. Buchanan was then elected to the McLean County Board.

Buchanan served on the transportation committee with current County Board Vice Chairman Jim Soeldner, who told our news partner, Heart of Illinois ABC, Buchanan was a “common sense individual” who used his sense of humor to bring levity to tense situations.

Buchanan’s wife Judy remains active in the community as a member of the Connect Transit Board of Trustees.

The Buchanans were named “history makers” by the McLean County Museum of History in 2019.

Bloomington has lost two of its former mayors in recent months. In February, Bloomington’s first woman mayor Judy Markowitz died from Alzheimer’s complications. She was 82.

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