Former Ill. State Senator, Insurance Committee Chair Bob Madigan Dies

Former state Sen. Bob Madigan, who represented central Illinois in the General Assembly for more than a decade, died Thursday. He was 63.

Madigan, a Republican from Lincoln, served in the Illinois Senate from 1987 to 2001. During his terms, he chaired the Committee on Insurance and Pensions and served on several other Senate committees.

Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson of Greenville said Madigan put up a hard fight in his battle with cancer.

“He was a true gentleman. He could disagree with you, but never be disagreeable,” Watson said in a statement. “He truly was a fine example that future legislators could follow.”

Madigan resigned from his Senate seat in July 2002 and accepted an appointment by former Gov. George Ryan to the Illinois Industrial Commission.

Madigan graduated from Lincoln High School in 1960 and attended Millikin University in Decatur, where he was captain of the football team. He also did postgraduate work at Illinois State University, Vale Institute and LaSalle University.

Before joining the Senate, Madigan served as Lincoln city clerk.

Madigan’s brother, Edward, was a U.S. representative for nearly 20 years and was secretary of agriculture under President George H.W. Bush. He died in December 1994 at the age of 58.

He is survived by his wife, Connie, their two children and two grandchildren.