Former President of the Illinois Senate
Emil Jones, Jr. is a political trailblazer, who throughout his long career (decades) in public service, has stood and spoke for others. Raised in Morgan Park, a graduate of Tilden High School and Loop Junior College, Jones studied business administration at Roosevelt University and graduated from Chicago State University. Jones was inspired to enter politics during John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign. He volunteered and organized support.
Recognizing the powers of public office to effect social change, Jones pursued a political career and was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1973, became an Illinois State Senator in 1983 and served as president of the Illinois State Senate from 2003 until his retirement in 2009, making him the longest serving senate leader of either party in the Illinois Senate since the 1970 Constitution.
As a champion for children, the elderly, the disadvantaged and working families, Jones shepherded important legislation throughout his 36-year career in the Illinois General Assembly that improved the lives of his constituents. Some of his major legislative accomplishments include funding the largest single increase in per-pupil expenditure in the state’s history and passing legislation that requires teaching African American history in Illinois Schools.
Throughout his career, Jones has mentored many elected officials including President Barack Obama, who met Jones while a community organizer and later was his protégé as a young Illinois State Senator. President Obama has described Jones as his “Political Godfather.” Jones is a father of four and a grandfather. He is married to Dr. Lorrie Rickman.