Roland W. Burris | |
---|---|
![]() Burris in January 2009 | |
United States Senator from Illinois | |
In office December 31, 2008 – November 29, 2010 | |
Appointed by | Rod Blagojevich |
Preceded by | Barack Obama |
Succeeded by | Mark Kirk |
39th Illinois Attorney General | |
In office January 14, 1991 – January 9, 1995 | |
Governor | Jim Edgar |
Preceded by | Neil Hartigan |
Succeeded by | Jim Ryan |
3rd Illinois Comptroller | |
In office January 8, 1979 – January 14, 1991 | |
Governor | James R. Thompson |
Preceded by | Michael Bakalis |
Succeeded by | Dawn Clark Netsch |
Personal details | |
Born | Centralia, Illinois | August 3, 1937
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Berlean M. Burris |
Children | Rolanda S. Burris Roland W. Burris II |
Residence | Chatham, Chicago, Illinois |
Alma mater | Howard University School of Law (J.D.) Southern Illinois University Carbondale (B.A.) |
Profession | Attorney, former financial executive |
Roland Wallace Burris (born August 3, 1937)[1] is an American politician. He was a United States Senator from the state of Illinois. He is a member of the Democratic Party.
In 1978, Burris was the first African-American elected to statewide office in Illinois, when he was elected Illinois Comptroller. He was in that office until his election as Illinois Attorney General in 1990. Since then, he has unsuccessfully run for office four more times.[2]
Burris was born on August 3, 1937 in Centralia, Illinois. He studied at Centralia High School, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, at the University of Hamburg in Germany, and at Howard University School of Law.
Burris is married to Berlean Miller. They have two children. He has lived in Chatham, Chicago, Illinois since the 1980s. He built his own tomb at the Oak Woods Cemetery in Chicago.[3]
He wanted to end his career with a statewide office", said friend, traveling companion and WVON radio host Cliff Kelley, who recalled Burris becoming upset when others were mentioned as potential Obama successors and he was not. "He really wanted this. He never thought he'd get it, but he was hoping for it.