James H. Donnewald (January 29, 1925 – September 18, 2009) was an American politician from the state of Illinois. He was a Democrat who served as state Treasurer from 1983 until 1987.[1]
Early life and career
James H. Donnewald was born in Carlyle, Illinois on January 29, 1925. His family moved to Joliet, Illinois when he was in sixth grade, but returned to Carlyle his final year of high school. He entered Saint Louis University in 1942 and transferred to Lincoln College of Law in Springfield, Illinois in 1944. Donnewald joined the United States Army after the start of the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1951. Donnewald began the practice of law in 1952.[2] In 1948, Donnewald was elected as a Democratic precinct committeeman. He was elected as a Carlyle Township Supervisor in 1949 where he would serve until 1951. He served as the City Attorney of Breese, Illinois in 1956.[3]
Political career
He was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1960 and re-elected in 1962. He was subsequently elected to the state Senate in 1964. During his tenure, he would serve as the assistant Senate majority leader. In 1982, he was elected as the state Treasurer. Despite the support for his reelection in 1986 by the Illinois Democratic Central Committee, including U.S. Senator Alan Dixon, Thom Serafin, and William Griffin,[4] he was defeated by Jerome Cosentino, who was also his predecessor. He left office in 1987 and retired from elective politics.
