James Donnewald Explained

James Donnewald
Order:68th Treasurer of Illinois
Governor:Jim Thompson
Term Start:January 10, 1983
Term End:January 12, 1987
Predecessor:Jerome Cosentino
Successor:Jerome Cosentino
Birth Date:January 29, 1925
Birth Place:Carlyle, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:Saint Louis University
Lincoln College of Law
Spouse:Ruth Evelyn Holtgrave
Residence:Breese, Illinois

James H. Donnewald (January 29, 1925  - September 18, 2009) was an American politician from the state of Illinois. He was a Democrat who served as state Treasurer from 1983 until 1987.[1]

Early life and career

James H. Donnewald was born in Carlyle, Illinois on January 29, 1925. His family moved to Joliet, Illinois when he was in sixth grade, but returned to Carlyle his final year of high school. He entered Saint Louis University in 1942 and transferred to Lincoln College of Law in Springfield, Illinois in 1944. Donnewald joined the United States Army after the start of the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1951. Donnewald began the practice of law in 1952.[2] In 1948, Donnewald was elected as a Democratic precinct committeeman. He was elected as a Carlyle Township Supervisor in 1949 where he would serve until 1951. He served as the City Attorney of Breese, Illinois in 1956.[3]

Political career

He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1960 and re-elected in 1962. He was subsequently elected to the state Senate in 1964. During his tenure, he would serve as the assistant Senate majority leader. In 1982, he was elected as the state Treasurer. Despite the support for his reelection in 1986 by the Illinois Democratic Central Committee, including U.S. Senator Alan Dixon, Thom Serafin, and William Griffin,[4] he was defeated by Jerome Cosentino, who was also his predecessor. He left office in 1987 and retired from elective politics.

Death

Donnewald died on September 18, 2009, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 84.[5] [6]

Notes

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Notes and References

  1. News: 'Illinois Blue Book 1985-1986,' Biographical Sketch of James H. Donnewald, pg. 26-27.
  2. Book: Casey, Charles T. (Chairman). Breese Centennial Celebration 1856-1956. July 1, 1956. Breese Historical Committee. Breese, Illinois. 75. October 1, 2024. Internet Archive.
  3. Book: Breese Centennial Celebration 1856-1956. 11. October 1, 2024. Internet Archive.
  4. Neal, Steve. "Donnewald Winds Up Race In Vote Country", Chicago Tribune, Chicago, February 02, 1986. Retrieved July 14, 2015
  5. http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=78195 Profile from Our Campaigns
  6. News: Former Illinois Treasurer James Donnewald dies at 84. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120229110154/http://www.sj-r.com/x2023996143/Former-Illinois-Treasurer-James-Donnewald-dies-at-84. September 19, 2009. February 29, 2012. The State Journal-Register.