Description
Book SynopsisPresents a life of principles, service, and faith. This first biography of Glenn Poshard traces the life of a young man who rose from rural poverty in Southern Illinois to become a United States congressman and president of the Southern Illinois University system.
Trade Review “Southern Illinois is in Glenn Poshard’s DNA. My friend and former colleague, Glenn made a life of politics and public service: soldier, state senator, congressman, candidate for governor and president of Southern Illinois University. Every step of the way he was faithful to his values and his heritage even at the cost of popular support. More than any person I know, Glenn Poshard has given a life of commitment to the families of Southern Illinois. When the political mapmakers carved up this unique part of our state, he refused to be any part of dividing the land of his birth. Now at a time when our nation is so bitterly divided, Glenn Poshard showed us that you can be true to your beliefs and still be respectful of your political adversaries. The voters even when they disagreed with him knew he was an honest, caring man in a world desperately searching for public servants to believe in. He and his wife Jo continue their lifelong commitment to those who need a helping hand with their Poshard Foundation for Children.”—Senator Dick Durbin
“Glenn Poshard has lived a remarkable life. He grew up in poverty-stricken southeastern Illinois, focused on education and rose in the political world to serve his home region in the Illinois State Senate and the United States Congress. During his decade in Congress, Glenn worked to improve infrastructure and boost educational services. As a son of Southern Illinois, he had experienced the importance of rural health care and, as a Congressman, he focused on programs and funding to save rural hospitals. His is an American story worth reading.”—Governor Jim Edgar
“Nobody represents the quintessential great American success story better than Glenn Poshard, and nobody represented southern and central Illinois in the halls of power better than Poshard. From his birth and growing up in a hard-working blue-collar family in White County to a career in education and a second career in public service, progressing from southern Illinois to Springfield, and then Washington, and back to southern Illinois Poshard compiled a distinguished career in both fields. Very few, if any, biographies of prominent politicians are this candid, resulting in a unique and important political biography.”—John S. Jackson, editor of Southern Illinois University at 150 Years
“I first met Glenn Poshard in 1982, two years before he was elected to the Illinois Senate. Glenn was the first senator from Southern Illinois to chair the Illinois Senate Labor Committee. Glenn’s tireless dedication to working men and women and their unions has not wavered in the forty years I have known him. One example of his lasting impact on our region is the thousands of union jobs created by the construction of the Olmsted Locks and Dam, the largest project ever completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. These union jobs, a total of more than 45 million labor hours, were the direct result of Glenn’s efforts.”—Edward M. Smith, president and CEO of Ullico
“It is difficult to estimate the influence of Glenn’s life on vulnerable and ‘faceless’ children whose lives have been dignified and enriched through his vision, love, and service. His early experience with the orphaned children of post-war Korea was a defining step toward placing him on a firm path to serving similarly vulnerable children back home. I arrived at the Song Jook Orphanage shortly after Glenn left Korea, but the pattern of service he and his colleagues established continued to bless us children and other soldiers who volunteered their time and gave of their heart. I am grateful that decades later, our lives intersected again and I am able to celebrate and deeply admire his life-long example. His life is truly a testament that those who grow through service are magnified, and humble hearts combined with genuine love can lead to great accomplishments.”—Jini Roby, professor emeritus social work, Brigham Young University
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Part 1. Southern Illinois Roots
- 1. White County Hills
- 2. A Quiet Country Kid at the Front
- 3. Military Life in Missouri, Korea, Indiana, and New York
- 4. First in the Family
- 5. Releasing the Demons
- Part 2. A Passion for Electoral Politics
- 6. Working for an Opponent
- 7. At Home in Lincoln Land
- 8. On the Issues, a Race for Congress
- 9. Not All about the Money
- 10. A Change of Heart
- 11. Worth the Fight
- 12. Redistricting and a New Constituency
- 13. Welcoming Central Illinois
- 14. Trusting Only America
- 15. Keeping a Promise
- Part 3. A Race for Illinois Governor
- 16. Pitching Lunch Bucket Populism
- 17. Liberal Fallout, Lost Opportunity
- 18. Meeting the New Governor
- Part 4. Southern Illinois University Leadership
- 19. Vision and Action on Campus
- 20. Trustees Turning Inward
- 21. Not a Job
- Part 5. Returning to Roots
- 22. The Right to Rise?
- 23. Professional Baseball in Southern Illinois
- 24. Rend Lake Turnaround
- 25. Faith in Politics
- 26. The Shadow Side of Leadership
- 27. Poshard Foundation and Beyond
- Appendixes
- A. Constituent Issues, 1993–94
- B. Constituent Issues, 1995–96
- C. President Emeritus Citation
