Larry D. Woolard (born September 20, 1941) was a Democratic member of the Illinois General Assembly serving in the House from 1989 to 2001 and the Senate from 2001 to 2003.

Larry Woolard
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 59th district
In office
January 2001 (2001-January) – June 2003 (2003-June)
Preceded byNed Mitchell
Succeeded byGary Forby
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 117th district
In office
January 1989 (1989-January) – January 2001 (2001-January)
Preceded byJim Rea
Succeeded byGary Forby
Personal details
Born (1941-09-20) September 20, 1941 (age 83)
Williamson County, Illinois
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMary Ann Switzer
ChildrenFour
ResidenceCarterville, Illinois
ProfessionBusiness owner
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
UnitArmy Reserve

Born in Williamson County, Illinois, Woolard lived in Carterville, Illinois with his wife and family. In 1989, State Representative Jim Rea was appointed to the Illinois Senate. Woolard was then appointed to succeed Rea in the Illinois House of Representatives.[1] Woolard served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1989 to 2001.

In 1999, Ned Mitchell, the Mayor of Sesser, was appointed by local Democratic Party chairs to succeed Senator Rea who had resigned to take a job with the Illinois Secretary of State.[2] Woolard chose to challenge Mitchell in the 2000 Democratic primary for the 59th district. Woolard won the primary and took office January 2001.[3] Woolard served in the Illinois State Senate from 2001 to 2003.

In June 2003, Woolard resigned from the Illinois Senate to take a job with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.[4] He was succeeded by Gary Forby.[5][6] He served as a regional manager for southern Illinois in the department. As part of this role, he served as the designee for the Governor of Illinois on the board of the Delta Regional Authority.[7][8]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Gherardini, Caroline (ed.). "Woolard replaces Rea in Illinois House". Illinois Issues. 15 (2). Sangamon State University: 30. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "Mitchell named to succeed Rea". The Southern Illinoisan. September 5, 1999. p. 9. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. ^ Murphy, Peter M. (2001). "92nd General Assembly Convenes with Active Schedule". Illinois Parks & Recreation. 32 (1). Illinois Association of Park Districts: 14. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  4. ^ Fodor, Eric (June 7, 2003). "Woolard resigns". The Marion Republican – via NewBank at Chicago Public Library.
  5. ^ Muir, Jim (17 June 2003). "Gary Forby Becomes a State Senator Today". thesouthern.com. The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ^ Illinois General Assembly-Larry D. Woolard
  7. ^ "Rethinking the Delta 2008-2013 Regional Development Plan" (PDF). Clarksdale, Mississippi: Delta Regional Authority. p. 4. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  8. ^ Hale, Caleb (December 5, 2008). "The Quest for Energy". The Southern Illinoisan. Retrieved August 13, 2021.