Jesse White (politician)
American politician / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jesse Clark White (born June 23, 1934) is an American educator, politician and former athlete from the State of Illinois. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 37th Secretary of State of Illinois from 1999 to 2023. He was the longest-serving American to hold this office. A popular office holder, White declined to seek reelection in 2022 for a seventh term.[1] Previously, he served as the Cook County Recorder of Deeds from 1993 to 1999 and in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1975 to 1993.
Jesse White | |
---|---|
37th Secretary of State of Illinois | |
In office January 11, 1999 – January 9, 2023 | |
Governor | |
Preceded by | George Ryan |
Succeeded by | Alexi Giannoulias |
Cook County Recorder of Deeds | |
In office December 1, 1992 – January 11, 1999 | |
Preceded by | Carol Moseley Braun |
Succeeded by | Eugene Moore |
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 | |
Preceded by | Constituency established |
Succeeded by | Robert LeFlore |
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 13th district | |
In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983 | |
Preceded by | James Houlihan |
Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Jesse Clark White (1934-06-23) June 23, 1934 (age 89) Alton, Illinois, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Children | 1 |
Education | Alabama State University (BA) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1957–1959 |
Unit | 101st Airborne Division • Illinois National Guard |
Raised in Chicago, White attended Alabama State University on a sports scholarship. He was a minor league baseball player in the 1950s and 1960s. During that time, he also formed a youth sports and community organization, the Jesse White Tumbling Team, which has continued throughout his several careers. White went on to become a teacher and administrator in the Chicago Public Schools.