Philip J. Rock, American politician, Died at 78

  Politician

Philip J. Rock was born on May 4, 1937, and died on January 29, 2016.
He was a long-time Democratic member of the Illinois Senate.
He represented parts of the West Side of Chicago and Oak Park.
While he was in the Senate, Philip became the longest serving President of the Illinois Senate with a fourteen-year tenure serving from 1979 to 1993.
Rock gained both his bachelor’s degree in philosophy and his master’s degree in theology from the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and in 1964 he graduated from Loyola University School of Law.
Minister Rock was also an Assistant Attorney General under William G. Clark from 1965 until 1969 after he decided to work for the Cook County State’s Attorney.
Philip J. Rock was later elected to the Illinois Senate in 1970 to succeed Thomas A. McGloon, who ran for and won a judgeship.
After only one term, he was named assistant minority leader and after the Democrats won back the Senate during a Democratic wave year in 1974, assistant majority leader.
In his time in the Senate, the Illinois Deaf-Blind Service Center and School were established and the Regional Transportation Authority was formed.
Mr.Rock became President of the Illinois State Senate where he served for fourteen years, in 1977.
During 1996, Mr.Rock was appointed to the Illinois Board of Higher Education and became its Chair in April 1999.
Philip J. Rock stepped down from the board in April 2002.
Mr. Rock published his autobiography, Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello, co-authored with Ed Wojcicki, in 2012.
Philip J. Rock passed away 78 yrs old.