Robert Dale Morgan
Encyclopedia
Robert Dale Morgan was mayor of Peoria, Illinois
in the 1950s and a United States federal judge
in Illinois from 1967 to 2002.
Born in Peoria, Illinois
, Morgan received a B.A.
from Bradley University
in 1934 and a J.D.
from the University of Chicago Law School
in 1937. He was a U.S. Commissioner, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois from 1938 to 1946.
He married Betty Harbers Morgan of Peoria on October 14, 1939; she died in September 2010. They had two sons: Thomas D. Morgan (born 1940) and James R. Morgan (born 1946); both were alive .
He was in the United States Army
during World War II
, from 1942 to 1946. He was a major in the U.S. Army JAG Corps stationed in Chicago.
He was in private practice in Peoria, Illinois
from 1937 to 1942 and 1946 to 1967, and was a law partner of Everett Dirksen
, Republican minority leader of the United States Senate
from 1951 to 1969.
Morgan was elected the 35th Mayor
of Peoria, Illinois
and served from 1953 to 1957. Peoria at the time was known as a city of ill-repute, full of gambling and prostitution. Morgan campaigned on a pledge to oust those elements, and under his administration, police began rapidly enforcing laws against these vice
crimes. Authorities believed that these efforts led to the numerous attempts on his life including a dynamite blast on May 20, 1954, which severely damaged his home. Under his tenure, Peoria was named by Look magazine as one of the nation's 11 All-America cities
. For this and getting the city out of debt, Morgan received the Good Government Award in 1954. He was long active in Republican
politics in Illinois, but he discontinued all political activity when he was appointed the position of federal judge.
Morgan was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson
on May 24, 1967, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
vacated by Frederick O. Mercer. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
on June 12, 1967, and received his commission the same day. He was chief judge from 1972 to 1979. On March 31, 1979, he was reassigned to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
, and was chief judge there from 1979 to 1982. He assumed senior status
on May 28, 1982 and remained until his death on May 29, 2002 in Peoria.
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
in the 1950s and a United States federal judge
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
in Illinois from 1967 to 2002.
Born in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
, Morgan received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Bradley University
Bradley University
Bradley University, founded in 1897, is a private, co-educational university located in Peoria, Illinois. It is a small institution with an enrollment of approximately 6,100 undergraduate and postgraduate students and a full-time faculty of approximately 350....
in 1934 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Chicago Law School
University of Chicago Law School
The University of Chicago Law School was founded in 1902 as the graduate school of law at the University of Chicago and is among the most prestigious and selective law schools in the world. The U.S. News & World Report currently ranks it fifth among U.S...
in 1937. He was a U.S. Commissioner, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois from 1938 to 1946.
He married Betty Harbers Morgan of Peoria on October 14, 1939; she died in September 2010. They had two sons: Thomas D. Morgan (born 1940) and James R. Morgan (born 1946); both were alive .
He was in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, from 1942 to 1946. He was a major in the U.S. Army JAG Corps stationed in Chicago.
He was in private practice in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
from 1937 to 1942 and 1946 to 1967, and was a law partner of Everett Dirksen
Everett Dirksen
Everett McKinley Dirksen was an American politician of the Republican Party. He represented Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate...
, Republican minority leader of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1951 to 1969.
Morgan was elected the 35th Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
and served from 1953 to 1957. Peoria at the time was known as a city of ill-repute, full of gambling and prostitution. Morgan campaigned on a pledge to oust those elements, and under his administration, police began rapidly enforcing laws against these vice
Vice
Vice is a practice or a behavior or habit considered immoral, depraved, or degrading in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a defect, an infirmity, or merely a bad habit. Synonyms for vice include fault, depravity, sin, iniquity, wickedness, and corruption...
crimes. Authorities believed that these efforts led to the numerous attempts on his life including a dynamite blast on May 20, 1954, which severely damaged his home. Under his tenure, Peoria was named by Look magazine as one of the nation's 11 All-America cities
All-America City Award
The All-America City Award is given by the National Civic League annually to ten cities in the United States.The oldest community recognition program in the nation, the award recognizes communities whose citizens work together to identify and tackle community-wide challenges and achieve uncommon...
. For this and getting the city out of debt, Morgan received the Good Government Award in 1954. He was long active in Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politics in Illinois, but he discontinued all political activity when he was appointed the position of federal judge.
Morgan was nominated by President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
on May 24, 1967, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
The United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois is a Federal district court covering approximately the southern half of the state of Illinois....
vacated by Frederick O. Mercer. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on June 12, 1967, and received his commission the same day. He was chief judge from 1972 to 1979. On March 31, 1979, he was reassigned to the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois serves the residents of forty-six counties from its four courthouses...
, and was chief judge there from 1979 to 1982. He assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on May 28, 1982 and remained until his death on May 29, 2002 in Peoria.