Vic Gilliam

Victor Stephen Gilliam (July 21, 1953 – June 17, 2020) was an American politician and actor who served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017. A member of the Republican Party, Gilliam resigned in 2017 due to health problems.

Vic Gilliam
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from the 18th district
In office
January 8, 2007 – January 30, 2017
Preceded byMac Sumner
Succeeded byRick Lewis
Personal details
Born(1953-07-21)July 21, 1953
Dover, Ohio, U.S.
DiedJune 17, 2020(2020-06-17) (aged 66)
Silverton, Oregon, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Becky
Education

After serving as a legislative aide from 1976 to 1981, he unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. In 2007, he was appointed to fill the vacancy created by Mac Sumner's resignation and served until his own resignation in 2017. Gilliam was also an actor who appeared in multiple television shows.

Early life and education

Victor S. Gilliam was born on July 21, 1953 in Dover, Ohio. In 1975, he graduated from Warner Pacific University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then earned a Master of Education from the University of South Carolina in 1982.[1] On May 14, 2016, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree.[2]

Career
Vic Gilliam's 1986 state house campaign logo

From 1976 to 1981, Gilliam worked as a legislative aide to United States Senator Mark Hatfield.[3] In 1980, he criticized President Jimmy Carter's support for military registration of people aged 19 and 20 as "a quick fix, a reaction, a hysterical voice saying that something has to be done."[4]

Gilliam was an actor and a member of the Screen Actors Guild.[5] From 1984 to 1985, he served as the director of alumni relations at Willamette University.[6]

Elections

During the 1986 elections Gilliam ran for the Republican nomination for the Oregon House of Representatives from the 31st district.[7] During the campaign he was endorsed by the Statesman Journal editorial board.[3] In the Republican primary he was defeated by Al Riebel.[8]

In 1987, Gilliam announced that he would seek the Republican nomination in the 31st district, but was defeated by Gene Derfler.[9][10][11]

In 2006, state Representative Mac Sumner announced his resignation due to his lung cancer.[12] On December 27, Gilliam was selected to replace Sumner as representative from the 18th district by the county commissioners of Marion and Clackamas counties.[13]

Tenure

On January 8, 2007, Gilliam was sworn into the Oregon House of Representatives and was appointed to serve on the consumer protection, and the human services and women's wellness committee during the 2007–2009 legislative session.[14][15][16]

In 2007, Gilliam voted against legislation that would allow domestic partnerships for same-sex couples, and legislation that would prohibit discrimination against LGBT people in housing, employment, and access to public places.[17] In 2013, he was one of five Republicans in the House of Representatives to vote in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to receive driver licenses.[18]

Death

In 2014, Gilliam and Brian Clem participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise donations for research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In November 2015, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. On January 30, 2017, Gilliam resigned from the House of Representatives due to the symptoms of the disease worsening.[19][20]

Gilliam died in Silverton, Oregon on June 17, 2020, aged 66.[21][22]

Filmography
Title Year Role Notes Ref.
Nowhere Man 1996 Good-looking cop [23]
Follow the Prophet 2009 Film [23]
Portlandia 2016 Episode: "Going Gray" [24]
Leverage 2019 Baseball team owner [25][23]

Electoral history
Vic Gilliam electoral history
2008 Oregon House of Representatives 13th district Republican primary[26]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vic Gilliam 2,100 100.00%
Total votes 2,100 100.00%
2008 Oregon House of Representatives 13th district election[27]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vic Gilliam 13,737 56.09%
Democratic Jim Gilbert 10,755 43.91%
Total votes 24,492 100.00%
2010 Oregon House of Representatives 13th district election[28]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vic Gilliam 11,339 63.19%
Democratic Rodney E. Orr 6,213 34.62%
Libertarian Martin Soehrman 393 2.19%
Total votes 17,945 100.00%
2012 Oregon House of Representatives 13th district election[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vic Gilliam 14,399 100.00%
Total votes 14,399 100.00%
2014 Oregon House of Representatives 13th district election[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Vic Gilliam 11,581 66.30%
Democratic Scott A. Mills 5,886 33.70%
Total votes 17,467 100.00%

References
  1. "Vic Gilliam's Biography". Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  2. "Alum Victor Gilliam receives Honorary Doctor of Laws degree". Warner Pacific University. May 17, 2016. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  3. "Gilliam, Barilla backed". Statesman Journal. April 7, 1986. p. 6. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "400 students at OSU hold anti-draft rally". Statesman Journal. February 15, 1980. p. 14. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Former Rep. Vic Gilliam passes away". Molalla Pioneer. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  6. "Willamette names new alumni director". Statesman Journal. July 25, 1985. p. 19. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "'86 looks like banner year for comebacks". Statesman Journal. November 5, 1985. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "1986 primary". Statesman Journal. May 21, 1986. p. 4. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Gilliam announces". Statesman Journal. November 17, 1987. p. 5. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "1988 primary results". Statesman Journal. May 19, 1988. p. 22. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "1988 primary results 2". Statesman Journal. May 19, 1988. p. 22. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Six candidates vie to replace Sumner in House District 18". Statesman Journal. December 16, 2006. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Silverton man is chosen to fill vacant House seat". Statesman Journal. December 28, 2006. p. 13. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "New official working hard at Capitol". Statesman Journal. January 22, 2007. p. 17. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "2007 House Committee Membership". Statesman Journal. January 7, 2007. p. 6. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. "Committee Membership". Statesman Journal. June 20, 2007. p. 19. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. "How they voted". Statesman Journal. April 18, 2007. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Legislators pay tributes to former state Rep. Vic Gilliam". Portland Tribune. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  19. "Former Oregon lawmaker Vic Gilliam of Silverton remembered for humor, dedication". Statesman Journal. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  20. "State Rep. Vic Gilliam, afflicted with ALS, resigns". Associated Press. January 30, 2017. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  21. "Legislators remember the late Rep. Vic Gilliam of Silverton". The Bulletin. June 19, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  22. Staff, Associated Press and KATU (June 18, 2020). "Former Oregon Rep. Vic Gilliam dies". KATU. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  23. "In Memoriam: State Rep. Vic Gilliam". Marion County Republican Party. June 18, 2020. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020.
  24. "Oregon Lawmaker Keeps Working In The Face Of 'Pretty Definitive' ALS Diagnosis". NW News Network. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  25. "Oregon lawmaker gets TV part in 'Leverage' episode". The Oregonian. January 10, 2019. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  26. "primary 2008". Statesman Journal. May 21, 2008. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. "election 2008". Statesman Journal. November 9, 2008. p. 12. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. "Election 2010". Statesman Journal. November 3, 2010. p. 5. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. "Election 2012". Albany Democrat-Herald. November 7, 2012. p. 6. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. "Election 2014". Statesman Journal. November 6, 2014. p. A9. Archived from the original on June 19, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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