Former Illinois Sen. Adlai Stevenson III dies at age 90

Posted on September 8, 2021

*Stevenson represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate from 1970 to 1981. (Photo courtesy McLean County Museum of History)*

CHICAGO – Former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III, whose family has roots in Bloomington-Normal, has died at his Chicago home. He was 90.

Stevenson is the son of former Illinois Gov. Adlai Stevenson, two time Democratic presidential candidate, and United Nations ambassador Adlai Stevenson II, who was raised in Bloomington .

The former senator’s son, Adlai Stevenson IV, confirmed the death, saying the Illinois Democrat had dementia.

Stevenson represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate from 1970 to 1981. He ran twice unsuccessfully for Illinois Governor, losing his 1982 contest by just 5.074 votes to Republican Gov. Jim Thompson.

Stevenson’s father lost two bids for the presidency to Republican Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.

Stevenson is part of a family that used to own The Pantagraph, Bloomington’s daily newspaper, and WJBC.

Gov. Stevenson died in 1965 while serving as U.N. ambassador. His funeral in the Twin Cities was attended by President Lyndon Johnson. He is buried at Bloomington’s Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…