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Leland J. Kennedy[edit]

Leland J. Kennedy
Portrait of Leland J. Kennedy, taken from the 1965–1966 Illinois Blue Book
Portrait from the 1965–1966 Illinois Blue Book
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office
January 9, 1963 (1963-01-09) – January 8, 1975 (1975-01-08)
Preceded byPaul Simon
Succeeded byJoe E. Lucco
Everett G. Steele
Sam W. Wolf
Constituency
  • 56th district (1973–1975)
  • 55th district (1967–1973)
  • At-large (1965–1967)
  • 53rd district (1963–1965)
In office
January 8, 1947 (1947-01-08) – January 12, 1955 (1955-01-12)
Preceded byMilton Mueller
James O. Monroe
Succeeded byPaul Simon
Constituency47th district
Member of the Alton City Council from the 7th ward
In office
1941 (1941) – January 22, 1947 (1947-01-22)
Personal details
Born
Leland Joseph Kennedy

(1908-12-03)December 3, 1908
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
DiedFebruary 17, 1990(1990-02-17) (aged 81)
Political partyDemocratic
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Army
Years of service1943–1945
Battles/warsWorld War II

Leland Joseph Kennedy[1] (December 3, 1908 – February 17, 1990) was an American politician. He served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1947 to 1955, and from 1963 to 1975. A member of the Democratic Party, he was also a member of the Alton City Council from 1945 to 1947.

Early life[edit]

Kennedy was born on December 3, 1908, in Alton, Illinois, to Joseph C. Kennedy and Louise Herweck Kennedy.[2] He graduated from high school and took a night school class on political science.[3]

Kennedy was an operating engineer at Shell plc. After being elected to the state legislature, he took a five-month leave of absence, returning in July 1947.[4]

Alton City Council (1941–1947)[edit]

Kennedy announced his candidacy for the seventh ward of the Alton City Council.[5] He defeated his opponents, Gilbert V. McCutchan and Robert J. Richardson, in the election, receiving 884 votes; McCutchan received 751 votes and Richardson had 286 votes.[6]

While serving as an alderman in 1943, Kennedy was drafted for the United States Army; he began his military service on October 28.[1][7] A year into his service, he was severely injured in a vehicular accident in France.[8] He spent ten days in French hospitals before being moved to an American hospital located in England.[9] He was later sent to the Baxter General Hospital in Spokane, Washington.[10] Kennedy was re-elected to the council in 1945 unopposed.[11] His opponent, Marshall N. Selkirk, withdrew from the race after Kennedy's announcement for re-election, stating that he does "not wish to run against a serviceman."[12] Kennedy returned home to Alton on a 60-day furlough in April 1945.[13][14]

Between 1945 and 1947, Kennedy was chairman of the Finance Committee and member of the Public Building Committee.[15][16]

Illinois House of Representatives[edit]

First tenure (1947–1955)[edit]

Kennedy first ran for the Illinois House of Representatives in 1944 for the 47th district, although lost the Democratic nomination to Lloyd Harris.[17]

In November 1945, Kennedy announced another run for the 47th district in the 1946 election.[18] He won the election, defeating Republican opponent Schuyler B. Vaughan.[19][20] In response, Vaughan contested his defeat, alleging that the Madison County canvassing board allowed election judges to make changes in returns "for the pretended purpose of correcting alleged errors in the counting of votes."[21] Kennedy resigned from the Alton City Council effective January 23, 1947.[22][23]

Kennedy was assigned to the committees of military and veterans' affairs; railroads, public utilities and aviations; industry and labor relations; and municipalities. One of his first bills introduced to the legislature would have required municipal bonds to be sold to the highest bidder.[24] The bill died in the chamber.[25]

In the 1948 election, Kennedy won the Democratic primary with Harris,[26] and won the general election alongside Harris and Orville Hodge.[27] Kennedy was re-elected for a third term in 1950,[28] and a fourth in 1952.[29]

During the 1954 election, Kennedy lost the Democratic primary to Paul Simon in an upset.[30][31][32]

Subsequent activites (1955–1963)[edit]

In January 1955, Kennedy announced his campaign for supervisor of Alton Township, running against Leo F. Fitzgerald and incumbent Louis E. Walter.[33][34] Kennedy placed last, receiving 1,530 votes.[35]

Second tenure (1963–1975)[edit]

After Simon's entry into the 1962 Illinois State Senate election, it was theorized that Kennedy would campaign for Simon's seat in the House of Representatives, the 53rd district.[36] In December 1961, Kennedy announced his campaign.[37] He officially filed for candidacy a month later in January 1962.[38]

Kennedy introduced a bill in January 1963 that would only recognize adultery as reason for a divorce, after researching similar laws in New York.[39][40]

In November 1973, Kennedy revealed to the Edwardsville Intelligencer that he was considering not running for re-election, stating that he "would like to see the length of time between the primary and the general election shortened."[41] He chose not to, and endorsed Dan O'Neill for the Democratic primary.[42][43]

Personal life[edit]

During the 66th session of the Illinois General Assembly, Kennedy married Mary Eileen Cain. They had two children together: Patrick and Maureen.[44]

Kennedy died of natural causes on February 17, 1990.[45][46]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "22 Altonians Accepted for Armed Service". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. October 15, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Joseph C. Kennedy of Alton Dies Suddenly". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. April 30, 1937. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "City-Township Candidates Reply To League Questionnaire". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. March 29, 1955. p. 6. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Kennedy Back at Shell". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. July 15, 1947. p. 9. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Candidate for Alderman". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. January 7, 1941. p. 6. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Proceedings Of The City Council Of The City Of Alton, Illinois, Official Report—Seventh Ward". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. April 15, 1941. p. 12. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Kennedy Presides Briefly For His Council Farewell". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. October 28, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "L. J. Kennedy Seriously Hurt In Jeep Mishap". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. November 13, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Sgt. L. J. Kennedy Writes From His Hospital Bed". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. December 8, 1944. p. 12. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Homer Kennedy Gets Bronze Star". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. March 14, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tribute to Soldier". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. March 2, 1945. p. 4. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "3 Candidates to Be Unopposed". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. February 28, 1945. p. 2. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Sgt. L. J. Kennedy Home on Furlough". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. April 17, 1945. p. 9. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Mayor's Salary Increased $600 By City Council". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. April 26, 1945. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. ... Sgt. Leland J. Kennedy, now home on a 60-day furlough ...
  15. ^ "Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Alton, Illinois, Official Report". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. July 31, 1945. p. 12. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. ... Leland J. Kennedy, Chairman of the Finance Committee ...
  16. ^ "To Alton Coal Dealers". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. July 16, 1945. p. 8. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Barrett, Edward J. (ed.). Illinois Blue Book (1945-1946 ed.). p. 795. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kennedy to Run For Legislature". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. November 2, 1945. p. 16. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Barrett, Edward J. (ed.). Illinois Blue Book (1947-1948 ed.). pp. 167–168, 801. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  20. ^ "Henry is Winner by 30-Vote Edge". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. November 12, 1946. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. In the final figures, Leland J. Kennedy of Alton was elected [...] over Schuyler B. Vaughn [sic] of Greenville, a Republican ...
  21. ^ "Vaughan Files Notice Contesting His Defeat For Assembly Seat". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. January 2, 1947. p. 2. Retrieved April 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Kennedy Resigns Council Seat to Serve in Assembly". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. January 23, 1947. p. 1. Retrieved April 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Proceedings of The City Council of The City of Alton, Illinois, Official Report". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. January 28, 1947. p. 16. Retrieved April 10, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. I wish at this time to tender my resignation as an Alderman of the Seventh Ward of the City of Alton, Illinois, such resignation, if accepted by the City Council to be effective at 12:01 o'clock A. M. on January 23, 1947.
  24. ^ "Kennedy Bill Calls For City Bond Advertising". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. February 8, 1947. p. 10. Retrieved April 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Bond Bid Bill Apparently Dead". The Pantagraph. Bloomington, Illinois. May 22, 1947. p. 4. Retrieved April 11, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "City Precincts And East Alton Pace Balloting". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. November 3, 1948. p. 2. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Democrats Sweep County With 23,000-Vote Majority". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. November 3, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "Says Ban 'Unfair'—Kennedy to Push Bill for Yellow Margarine, in General Assembly". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. December 2, 1950. p. 2. Retrieved April 16, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ "Smith to Contest Election Defeat". Edwardsville Intelligencer. December 18, 1952. Retrieved April 20, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. ... Leland J. Kennedy, Alton—the two Democratic incumbents who were re-elected ...
  30. ^ "Thomae and Ogle Re-Head Parties". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. April 27, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Also introduced were Leland J. Kennedy, Alton, defeated by Simon for renomination to the Illinois House ...
  31. ^ "Harris, Monroe Named". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. April 14, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Mitchell Lauds County's Revolt Against 'Bossism'". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. March 12, 1960. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. Paul Simon, Troy, upset Leland J. Kennedy, Alton, ...
  33. ^ "L. J. Kennedy Is Candidate For Supervisor". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. January 31, 1955. p. 13. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ "Tiemann Reelected Collinsville Twp. Road Commissioner". Belleville Daily Advocate. Belleville, Illinois. April 6, 1955. p. 10. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "Proceedings of the City Council of the City of Alton, Illinois, Official Report—For Supervisor". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. April 19, 1955. p. 8. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  36. ^ "L. J. Kennedy May Enter State Representative Race". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. November 4, 1961. p. 1. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Announces for Representative". Belleville News-Democrat. Belleville, Illinois. December 4, 1961. p. 13. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  38. ^ "Leland Kennedy Files for Office". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. January 16, 1962. p. 2. Retrieved April 9, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ "Urges Illinois Divorce Only for Adultery". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. January 30, 1963. p. 6. Retrieved May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Smith Plans to Oppose Birth Control; Rep. Kennedy Would Toughen Divorces". Alton Evening Telegraph. Alton, Illinois. January 4, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved May 15, 204 – via Newspapers.com. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  41. ^ Palen, John (November 3, 1973). "Rep. Kennedy May Bow Out". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "O'Neill Is Candidate For Representative". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. November 20, 1973. p. 3. Retrieved May 15, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. He said he seeks election to the House seat to be vacated by the retirement of incumbent Rep. Leland J. Kennedy, D-Alton.
  43. ^ Broadway, Jim (February 26, 1974). "Dan O'Neill Backed By Retiring Kennedy". Edwardsville Intelligencer. Edwardsville, Illinois. p. 1. Retrieved April 8, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Howlett, Michael J. (ed.). Illinois Blue Book (1973-1974 ed.). p. 167. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  45. ^ Waggoner, Horace Q. (1982). Leland J. Kennedy Memoir. University of Illinois. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  46. ^ U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011
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