Edward J. Rosewell
Edward J. Rosewell | |
---|---|
Cook County Treasurer | |
In office December 1974 – December 1998 | |
Preceded by | Bernard J. Korzen |
Succeeded by | Maria Pappas |
Personal details | |
Born | 1924 or 1925 |
Died | July 29, 1999 (age 74) Kankakee, Illinois |
Political party | Democratic |
Edward J. Rosewell was an American politician who served as Cook County treasurer.
Early life[]
Rosewell was born in 1924 or 1925.[1] He was the youngest son of his parents.[2] His father was a truck driver, and his mom was a homemaker.[2]
Rosewell grew up in the Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago.[3] He went to Our Lady of Sorrows Elementary School and St. Philip High School.[3] He graduated from DePaul University.[3]
Career[]
Rosewell served two years in the United States Army.[3]
Craven began his political career as a young man, working in the 24th Ward of Chicago as a precinct captain.[1][2][3]
In the 1950s he became involved in a Young Democrats group, helping found the organization.[1][2][3] Other members at the time included Richard Mell, Ted Lechowicz, and .[3]
Rosewell served as executive director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.[1][3] He served as a commissioner of the Chicago Park District.[1][3]
He worked in the private sector a vice president in the public funds division of Continental Illinois. He worked there until 1974.[2][3]
Cook County Treasurer[]
In 1974, Richard J. Daley asked him to run for Cook County treasurer.[1][3] As the Democratic nominee, he was elected.[1][3]
He was reelected in 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994.
In 1984, he was acquitted of bank fraud by a jury. He had been indicted on June 8, 1983. It had been alleged that he had understated debts from a failed clothing venture of his in order to qualify to receive loans from banks which also held substantial deposits from the county government.[2][3][4]
Under indictment, Rosewell opted not to seek reelection in the 1998 election to what would have been a seventh term.[1] In the autumn of 1998, he resigned after pleading guilty to charges of having put two state legislators ( and ) in ghost jobs in the treasurer's office, which gave thousands of dollars in salary and benefits in exchange for little or no work.[1][2][3] During his trial, federal prosecutors argued that Rosewell's office had widespread corruption and nepotism.[2]
Death[]
Craven died at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee, Illinois on July 29, 1999 from a chronic liver ailment related to hepatitis C.[1][3] After his death, his former spokesman Tom Leach said that he had suffered this ailment since 1996.[1]
After his death, a federal judge vacated his conviction, saying that Rosewell had been mentally unfit when he signed his plea agreement.[2]
Personal life[]
Rosewell as a devout catholic, and once met Pope John Paul II.[2] He developed a friendship with Cardinal Joseph Bernardin.[2]
Works authored[]
- Articles
- Rosewell, Edward J. (August 1, 1991). "Rosewell Begs to Differ". Chicago Reader
References[]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Presecky, William; Donato, Marla (30 July 1999). "ROSEWELL DIES; SERVED 6 TERMS AS TREASURER". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Mendell, David Mendell (27 February 1999). "A PUBLIC DOWNFALL, A PRIVATE ANGUISH". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Craven, Karen (31 July 1999). "EX-COOK COUNTY OFFICIAL EDWARD J. ROSEWELL". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
- ^ "Cook County Aide Indicted (Published 1983)". The New York Times. 10 June 1983.
- Cook County Treasurers
- 1999 deaths
- Illinois Democrats
- Illinois politicians convicted of crimes
- People from Kankakee, Illinois