Robert C. Winchester is an American politician from Illinois. An active member of the Republican Party, he served as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 until 1985.

Early life

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Winchester was born April 21, 1945, in Paducah, Kentucky. He was raised in Johnson and Pulaski counties in downstate Illinois.[1] When he was 11, his father died in what was ruled a suicide, though later research by Maureen Hughes has indicated it could have been a murder.[2] He graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He then took jobs with the Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Department of Procurement.[1]

Illinois House of Representatives

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He was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1974.[1] In 1984, Winchester ran for the Illinois Senate, but lost to Democratic candidate Glenn Poshard.[3]

Post-legislative career

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In 1988, Winchester ran for his old seat against Democratic incumbent David D. Phelps and lost.[4] In 1989, Winchester was appointed the head of the Office of Resource Marketing and Education in the Illinois Department of Conservation with responsibilities for special events and marketing.[5] In 1999, George Ryan hired Winchester to serve as his Deputy Chief of Staff overseeing the newly created Office of Southern Illinois.[6] In the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, Winchester ran to be elected as a delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention pledged to the presidential campaign of Florida Senator Marco Rubio.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Howlett, Michael, ed. (1975). "The Seventy-ninth General Assembly". Illinois Blue Book 1975-1976. p. 189.
  2. ^ Musgrave, Jon (August 30, 2012). "Book probes death of 'Shot' Winchester in Pulaski County". Harrisburg Register. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  3. ^ Franklin, Tim; Egler, Daniel; Silverman, Lauren (November 8, 1984). "Election '84: GOP gains just enough in state Senate to flex its muscles". Chicago Tribune. p. 13.
  4. ^ "For Election to the Illinois House". Chicago Tribune. October 28, 1988. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  5. ^ Gherardini, Caroline (ed.). "Conservation's public information, marketing programs under new direction". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. p. 62. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  6. ^ Whelpley, Rodd (ed.). "Shifts at the Top". Illinois Issues. Springfield, Illinois: Sangamon State University. p. 36. ISSN 0738-9663. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
  7. ^ Kacich, Tom (November 29, 2015). "Nobody like Ike in today's GOP". The News-Gazette. Retrieved October 15, 2019.