George E. Sangmeister

George Edward Sangmeister (February 16, 1931 – October 7, 2007) was an American politician and United States Representative from Illinois. He originally represented Illinois' 4th congressional district, before it was renumbered as the 11th district.

George Sangmeister
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Jack Davis
Succeeded by	Jerry Weller
Constituency	4th District (1989-1993) 11th District (1993-1995)
Member of the Illinois Senate
In office 1976–1987
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
In office 1972–1976
Personal details
Born	(1931-02-16)February 16, 1931 Frankfort, Illinois, U.S.
Died	October 7, 2007(2007-10-07) (aged 76) Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
Resting place	Abraham Lincoln Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Joliet, Illinois
Alma mater	John Marshall Law School Elmhurst College
Occupation	Lawyer

Sangmeister was born in Frankfort, Illinois. Sangmeister married Doris Hinspeter. He attended Joliet Junior College before entering the military and serving in the Korean War. After returning to private life, he attended Elmhurst College and then earned a law degree from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

Sangmeister spent several years in private law practice before becoming a magistrate for Will County, Illinois in 1961. In 1964, he became the county's district attorney.

In 1972, Sangmeister was elected as a Democrat to the Illinois House of Representatives. In 1976, after two terms in the state House, he was elected to the Illinois Senate. Sangmeister became a powerful Democratic leader in the state Senate, and, in 1986, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. Adlai Stevenson III chose Sangmeister as his running mate. However, Sangmeister lost to Lyndon LaRouche activist Mark Fairchild in the primary. When he declined to run in the fall as part of the Solidarity Party, the third place contender in the primary, former Cook County judge Michael Howlett, Jr. replaced him. Stevenson-Howlett went down to defeat in the General Election.

In 1988, Sangmeister was elected to Congress in a marginally Republican district. After three terms in the House, he declined to seek re-election in 1994, citing his frustration with national politics. He was replaced in Congress by Jerry Weller. He returned to private law practice for several years thereafter. He died of leukemia, aged 76.

He was interred on October 11, 2007 at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.