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Emil Jones, Jr.
Illinois State Senator for the 14th district
Emil Jones, Jr., a life-long resident of Chicago, has been a member of the Illinois General Assembly since 1973. He is a strong proponent of social justice and fair and adequate funding of public education in Illinois.
On January 12, 2005, Emil Jones, Jr. was elected Senate President in the 94th General Assembly, his second term as the Senate’s chief presiding officer.
Senator Jones began his political career in 1973, when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. He served in that capacity from 1973 to 1983. During that time he served as the Chairman of the Insurance Committee and was an Assistant Democratic Leader. In 1982 he was elected to the Illinois Senate. In addition to being the president of the Senate, he also serves as a member of the Executive Committee.
For his legislative and community endeavors, Senator Jones has received numerous awards from educational, business, and labor organizations, among others.
A 1953 graduate of Chicago’s Tilden Technical High School, Senator Jones graduated from Loop Junior College (now Harold Washington Community College). He then attended Roosevelt University, majoring in Business Administration, where he received the Doctorate of Humane Letters Honoris Causa Degree in 2004. Senator Jones received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Chicago State University, for his considerable contributions to public service and promoting greater educational opportunities at Chicago State. In 2004, he was named to the Board of Directors of the Forum of Senate Presidents, an organization of nationwide Senate Presidents in the U.S. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation. Also in 2004, President Jones was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of Harold Washington College.
He is a life-long resident of Chicago's South Side, and he is a member of Holy Name of Mary Church, the Knights of St. Peter Claver, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Conference of State Legislators, Board of Directors of the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Shriners. He is a 32nd degree Mason and a former Boy Scout Master. Senator Jones has four children and is married to Dr. Lorrie Jones.
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Illinois Transatlantic Slave Trade Commission