Larry D. Woolard Explained

Larry Woolard
Birth Place:Williamson County, Illinois
State Senate:Illinois
District:59th
Predecessor:Ned Mitchell
Successor:Gary Forby
Office4:Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 117th district
Predecessor4:Jim Rea
Successor4:Gary Forby
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Mary Ann Switzer
Children:Four
Residence:Carterville, Illinois
Profession:Business owner
Allegiance: United States
Unit:Army Reserve

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.

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 and References

  1. Gherardini. Caroline. Woolard replaces Rea in Illinois House. Illinois Issues. 15. 2. 30. Sangamon State University. 0738-9663. July 28, 2021.
  2. News: Mitchell named to succeed Rea. September 5, 1999. The Southern Illinoisan. 9. August 11, 2021.
  3. Murphy. Peter M.. 92nd General Assembly Convenes with Active Schedule. Illinois Parks & Recreation. 32. 1. 2001. 14. Illinois Association of Park Districts. August 13, 2021.
  4. News: Fodor. Eric. Woolard resigns. The Marion Republican. June 7, 2003. NewBank at Chicago Public Library.
  5. Web site: Gary Forby Becomes a State Senator Today. Muir, Jim. The Southern Illinoisan. 17 June 2003. thesouthern.com. 21 January 2015.
  6. http://www.ilga.gov/senate/Senator.asp?MemberID=772 Illinois General Assembly-Larry D. Woolard
  7. Web site: Rethinking the Delta 2008-2013 Regional Development Plan. 4. Delta Regional Authority. Clarksdale, Mississippi. August 13, 2021.
  8. News: Hale. Caleb. The Quest for Energy. December 5, 2008. The Southern Illinoisan. August 13, 2021.