William Stratton

William Grant Stratton (February 26, 1914 – March 2, 2001), known as "Billy the Kid", was the 32nd Governor of Illinois from 1953 to 1961, succeeding Adlai Stevenson II in that office.

Stratton was born on February 26, 1914 in Ingleside, Lake County, Illinois.

He won the Republican nomination for Governor in 1952, then defeated Lt. Governor Sherwood Dixon to become the youngest governor in America at that time.

Stratton was re-elected Governor in 1956. In 1960 he ran for an unprecedented third consecutive term, but was defeated by Democrat Otto Kerner, Jr.

Stratton was acquitted on charges of tax evasion in 1965.Stratton cleared of tax dodge In 1968, he ran in the Republican primary for Governor and was defeated by Richard B. Ogilvie.

Stratton died on March 2, 2001 from natural causes in Chicago, Illinois from natural causes, aged 87.

References

Category:1914 births
Category:2001 deaths
Category:Disease-related deaths in Chicago
Category:Burials at Rosehill Cemetery
Category:Governors of Illinois
Category:People acquitted of crimes
Category:United States representatives from Illinois
Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians
Category:20th-century American politicians