Editing William Stratton

{{Short description|Governor of Illinois from 1953 to 1961}}
{{about||his father, the Illinois Secretary of State|William J. Stratton|other people|William Stratton (disambiguation)}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = William G. Stratton
| image               = William G. Stratton (Illinois Blue Book Portrait 1955-1956).jpg
| caption = Official portrait of Stratton as governor
| order               = 32nd [[Governor of Illinois]]
| lieutenant          = [[John William Chapman]]
| term_start          = January 12, 1953
| term_end            = January 9, 1961
| predecessor         = [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]]
| successor           = [[Otto Kerner Jr.]]
| office1             = Chair of the [[National Governors Association]]
| term_start1         = June 23, 1957
| term_end1           = May 18, 1958
| predecessor1        = [[Thomas B. Stanley]]
| successor1          = [[LeRoy Collins]]
| office2             = 52nd & 56th [[Illinois Treasurer|Treasurer of Illinois]]
| governor2           = [[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]]
| term_start2         = January 8, 1951
| term_end2           = January 12, 1953
| predecessor2        = [[Ora Smith]]
| successor2          = [[Elmer J. Hoffman]]
| governor3           = [[Dwight H. Green]]
| term_start3         = January 11, 1943
| term_end3           = January 8, 1945
| predecessor3        = [[Warren Wright (politician)|Warren Wright]]
| successor3          = [[Conrad F. Becker]]
| state4              = [[Illinois]]
| district4           = {{ushr|IL|AL|at-large}}
| term_start4         = January 3, 1947
| term_end4           = January 3, 1949
| predecessor4        = [[Emily Taft Douglas]]
| successor4          = Constituency abolished
| term_start5         = January 3, 1941
| term_end5           = January 3, 1943
| predecessor5        = [[John C. Martin (Illinois Congressman)|John Martin]]<br>[[Thomas Vernor Smith|Thomas Smith]]
| successor5          = [[Stephen A. Day]]
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1914|2|26}}
| birth_place         = [[Ingleside, Illinois|Ingleside]], Illinois, U.S.
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2001|3|2|1914|2|26}}
| death_place         = [[Chicago]], Illinois, U.S.
| restingplace        = [[Rosehill Cemetery]]
| party               = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| spouse              = Shirley Stratton
| education           = [[University of Arizona]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
| allegiance          = {{flag|United States|1912}}
| branch              = {{flag|United States Navy}}
| serviceyears        = 1945–1946
| rank                = [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]]
| battles             = [[World War II]]
}}

'''William Grant Stratton''' (February 26, 1914 – March 2, 2001)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/03/11/william-g-stratton-87-illinois-32nd-governor/|title=William G. Stratton, 87, Illinois' 32nd governor ...|date=March 11, 2001|access-date=June 29, 2011|newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/05/us/william-stratton-illinois-governor-87.html|title=William Stratton; Illinois Governor, 87|date=March 5, 2001|access-date=June 29, 2011|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> was an American politician who served as the [[List of governors of Illinois|32nd governor of Illinois]] from 1953 to 1961.<ref name="il-bb5960">{{cite book |url=http://www.illinoisancestors.org/governors/stratton.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415080107/http://www.illinoisancestors.org/governors/stratton.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |title=Illinois Blue Book 1959–60 |publisher=[[Illinois Secretary of State]] |location=[[Springfield, Illinois]] }}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Born February 26, 1914, in [[Ingleside, Illinois|Ingleside]], [[Lake County, Illinois|Lake County]], Illinois, the son of [[William J. Stratton]], an Illinois politician and former Secretary of State,<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60">Illinois Blue Book 1959-60</ref> and Zula Van Wormer Stratton, he served two non-consecutive terms as an at-large representative from Illinois after he was elected in 1940 and 1946.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} He was elected [[Illinois Treasurer|State Treasurer]] in 1942 and 1950.

Mr. Stratton was educated in the public schools of Lake County, Illinois and graduated from the University of Arizona in 1934 with a degree in Political Science. In 1953, he received the annual alumni award from his alma mater. He holds honorary degrees from the University of Arizona, Bradley University, Lincoln Memorial University, Elmhurst, North Central and Shurtlell Colleges and John Marshall Law School.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>

He was first elected to the United States Congress from the state at-large in 1940. At 26, he was the youngest member of the 77th Congress. Following this two year term, he was elected State Treasurer. In 1944 he volunteered for service in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations in World War II.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/> He joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as a lieutenant from 1944 to 1946.<ref name="Sobel, Robert 1978">Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 1, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.</ref>

Returning to civilian life in 1946, he was elected to the U.S. Congress from the state-at-large for a second time. While in Congress he served on the following committees; Banking and Currency, Flood Control, Civil Service and District of Columbia.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>

In 1950 he was elected State Treasurer for a second term. Mr. Stratton reduced substantially the cost of operating this office during his administration. Mr. Stratton was inaugurated as the 32nd Governor of Illinois on January 12, 1953. At 38, he was the youngest man to hold this office in 70 years. He was re-elected to a second term in 1956.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>

After his military service, Stratton returned to politics, serving as a delegate to the 1952, 1956, 1960 and 1976 Republican National Conventions.<ref name="Sobel, Robert 1978"/>

He served on the Executive Committee of the Governors' Conference and in 1955 brought the annual meeting of the nation's governors to Illinois for the first time in history. In 1957, Governor Stratton was named chairman of the Governors' Conference, and served as president of the Council of State governments in 1958. In 1959, he was a member of the group of American Governors which visited Russia.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>

He was a candidate for Republican nomination for Vice President in 1960.<ref name="politicalgraveyard.com">{{Cite web|url=https://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/stratton.html|title=The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Stratton}}</ref>

The Illinois governor has been instrumental in developing Governors' Conference programs in the fields of highway construction, traffic safety, and federal state governmental relations. President Eisenhower, in 1958, named Governor Stratton a member of the Lincoln Sesquicentennial commission and in 1959, Mr. Stratton was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, and in the latter year led the Illinois delegation as its chairman.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>

==Governor==
He won the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nomination for governor [[1952 Illinois gubernatorial election|in 1952]] and defeated Lieutenant Governor [[Sherwood Dixon]] to become the youngest [[governor (United States)|governor in America]] at the time.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} Stratton was re-elected governor [[1956 Illinois gubernatorial election|in 1956]]. [[1960 Illinois gubernatorial election|in 1960]], he ran for an unprecedented third consecutive term, but was defeated by [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Otto Kerner, Jr.]] {{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

Stratton was acquitted on charges of [[tax evasion]] in 1965.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=icZaAAAAIBAJ&pg=7271,1831888&dq=william+stratton+tax+evasion&hl=en|title=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Google News Archive Search|website=news.google.com}}</ref> In 1968, he ran in the Republican primary for Governor and was defeated by [[Richard B. Ogilvie]]. Stratton finished a distant third, with only about seven percent of the primary vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=384663|title=Our Campaigns - IL Governor|date=June 11, 1968|website=ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>

Mr. Stratton considered the construction of the first 200 miles of the Illinois tollway system as one of his biggest achievements, his wife, Shirley, said in a telephone interview.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/05/us/william-stratton-illinois-governor-87.html|title = William Stratton; Illinois Governor, 87|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 5 March 2001}}</ref>

During his tenure, state hospital reforms were instituted that included beds for inmates, a bond issue was approved that funded the state’s expressway system, the first woman was chosen in a cabinet level status, and an improved state sales tax was initiated and used in school programs. After running unsuccessfully for a third term, Stratton left office on January 9, 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nga.org/governor/william-grant-stratton/|title = William Grant Stratton}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Grave of William Grant Stratton (1914–2001) at Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Stratton's grave at Rosehill Cemetery]]

In 1934, Stratton married Marion Hook. They had two children, Sandra (born 1936) and Diana (born 1939). Stratton and his wife spent most of their time apart because of his hectic political schedule, and Marion became dissatisfied with the marriage. Also, Marion despised the political arena and expressed distaste at her husband's relatively meager salary.<ref name=kenney>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oTbpKUnBKOcC&q=marion&pg=PA242|title=A Political Passage: The Career of Stratton of Illinois|last=Kenney|first=David|date=1990|publisher=SIU Press|isbn=9780809315499|language=en}}</ref> Although Stratton did not want a divorce, his wife insisted that they end the marriage. He obtained a divorce from her on the grounds of desertion in 1949. Although Marion was granted custody of the children, they lived primarily with Stratton until 1952.<ref name=leagle>{{Cite news|url=https://www.leagle.com/decision/197030954wtc2551287|title=Stratton v. Commissioner {{!}} 54 T.C. 255 (1970) {{!}} 4wtc2551287 {{!}} Leagle.com|work=Leagle|access-date=2018-08-24|language=en}}</ref>

In 1950, Stratton married Shirley Breckenridge (1923-2019). They have a daughter, Nancy.<ref name=leagle/> His second marriage was a happier one, and Shirley actively campaigned for her husband. The two remained married until his death in 2001.<ref name=kenney/>

Stratton retired from politics after his failed 1968 gubernatorial race. Stratton died on March 2, 2001, and was buried at the Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.<ref name="Sobel, Robert 1978"/> Interment at North Shore Garden of Memories, North Chicago, Ill.<ref name="politicalgraveyard.com"/>

Stratton was interested in the work of a number of civic fraternal and veterans' organizations. He was a 33rd degree Mason, Member; Lions Club, Eastern Star, Shrine, Eagles, Elks, Moose, Illinois Athletic Club (Chicago) and Delta Chi fraternity. As a veteran, he was a member of the American Legion, Amvets and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Stratton was a member of the Methodist Church. While maintaining the family home in Morris, he operated a livestock farm in Sangamon County.<ref name="Illinois Blue Book 1959-60"/>

==Later life==
In retirement, Stratton resided in [[Chicago]]. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Illinois Civil Service Commission.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}

He died at [[Northwestern Memorial Hospital]] in Chicago on March 2, 2001, at 87.

==Legacy==
The following are named in his honor:
* [[Stratton Lock and Dam]], on the [[Fox River (Illinois River tributary)|Fox River]], near [[McHenry, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/WaterResources/Pages/StrattonLockandDam.aspx|title=Water Resources|website=www.dnr.illinois.gov}}</ref>
* [[William G. Stratton State Park]], on the [[Illinois River]], in [[Morris, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dnr.state.il.us/Lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/east/stratton/home.htm|title=William G. Stratton State Park, Illinois DNR|website=state.il.us}}</ref>
* The [[William G. Stratton Building]] (formerly the State Office Building), in the [[Illinois State Capitol]] complex, which houses offices of many state legislators and other state agencies and was completed during his first term as governor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.illinoistimes.com/Springfield/article-1225-the-stratton-building's-midlife-crisis.html|title=The Stratton Building's midlife crisis|last=Cavanagh |first=Bob|date=July 15, 2004|work=Illinois Times|access-date=March 1, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Stratton Quadrangle]] at [[Southern Illinois University Edwardsville]] in recognition of his position as governor at the time of the university's founding. He was also the speaker at its first commencement in 1960.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=[[John C. Martin (Illinois Congressman)|John Martin]]<br>[[Thomas Vernor Smith|Thomas Smith]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Illinois|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Illinois's at-large congressional district]]|years=1941–1943|alongside=[[Stephen A. Day]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Stephen A. Day]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Emily Taft Douglas]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the [[List of United States Representatives from Illinois|U.S. House of Representatives]]<br>from [[Illinois's at-large congressional district]]|years=1947–1949}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Warren Wright (politician)|Warren Wright]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Illinois Treasurer|Treasurer of Illinois]]|years=1943–1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Conrad F. Becker]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Ora Smith]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Illinois Treasurer|Treasurer of Illinois]]|years=1951–1953}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elmer J. Hoffman]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Adlai Stevenson II|Adlai Stevenson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor of Illinois]]|years=1953–1961}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Otto Kerner Jr.]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Thomas B. Stanley]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the [[National Governors Association]]|years=1957–1958}}
{{s-aft|after=[[LeRoy Collins]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Warren Wright (politician)|Warren Wright]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Illinois Treasurer]] |years=[[1942 Illinois Treasurer election|1942]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Conrad F. Becker]]}}
{{s-bef|before=Arnold P. Benson}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Illinois Secretary of State|Secretary of State of Illinois]]|years=[[1948 Illinois Secretary of State election|1948]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Charles F. Carpentier]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Elmer Droste]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Illinois Treasurer]] |years=[[1950 Illinois Treasurer election|1950]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Elmer J. Hoffman]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Dwight H. Green]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Governor of Illinois]]|years=[[1952 Illinois gubernatorial election|1952]], [[1956 Illinois gubernatorial election|1956]], [[1960 Illinois gubernatorial election|1960]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Charles H. Percy]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Illinois}}
{{Illinois State Treasurers}}
{{National Governors Association chairs}}
{{USCongRep-start|congresses= 77th & 80th [[United States Congress]]es |state=[[Illinois]]}}
{{USCongRep/IL/77}}
{{USCongRep/IL/80}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stratton, William G.}}
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Methodists from Illinois]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Burials at Rosehill Cemetery]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of Illinois]]
[[Category:People from Lake County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois]]
[[Category:State treasurers of Illinois]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:University of Arizona alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]