Terry L. Bruce

Terry Lee Bruce (born March 25, 1944) is an American politician, lawyer, and educator from Illinois.

Terry L. Bruce
Chief Executive Officer of the Illinois Eastern Community College System
In office March 1996 – June 30, 2019
Succeeded by	Marilyn Holt (acting)
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 19th district
In office January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	Dan Crane
Succeeded by	Glenn Poshard
Member of the Illinois Senate
In office January 3, 1971 – January 3, 1985
Preceded by	Paul W. Broyles
Succeeded by	William L. O'Daniel
Constituency	55th district (1971-1973) 54th district (1973-1985)
Personal details
Born	Terry Lee Bruce March 25, 1944 Olney, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Charlotte Bruce
Children	2
Education	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (BA, JD)

Early life

Born in Olney, Illinois, Bruce graduated from East Richland High School in Olney in 1962, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1966, and from the University of Illinois Law School in Urbana in 1969.

He was admitted to the bar in 1969. When he announced his candidacy for the Illinois Senate in November 1969, he was occupied as an attorney in Olney, Illinois.[1]

Career

Bruce's initial election to the Illinois Senate representing the 55th District in 1971 was in part made possible by the retirement of the incumbent, Paul W. Broyles.[1] In 1972, the incumbent Bruce faced a challenge from Henry Hendren for representation of the 54th district.[2]

Bruce served as member of the Illinois Senate from 1971–84, and assistant majority leader from 1975–84. In 1981, Bruce was among those who opposed an "eleventh-hour action", ultimately accepted, to increase Illinois General Assembly compensation.[3] He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the 96th Congress in 1978.

Defeating Dan Crane who was implicated in a sex scandal, Bruce was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-ninth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served as United States Representative for the nineteenth district of Illinois from January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1992 to the 103rd Congress.

From 1996 to 2019 Bruce served as the chief executive officer of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) with colleges in Olney, Fairfield, Robinson, and Mt. Carmel.

Governor Pat Quinn appointed him to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) in September 2012. He replaced former ICCB member Dianne Meeks. He still serves on the board with an expiring term of June 30, 2021.[4] He at one point served as Vice Chairman of the board.[5] Bruce was appointed again to the ICCB by Governor Bruce Rauner for a term March 20, 2015 until June 30, 2015 to succeed Rodolfo Valdez.[6]

Family life

A resident of Olney, Illinois, Bruce is married to Charlotte and they have two daughters, Emily and Ellen.[7]

References

1. "Olney Attorney Announces for State Senate". Mt. Vernon Register-News. L (45). November 20, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved August 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Hendron, Bruce Win State Senate Races". Mt. Vernon Register-News. March 22, 1972. Retrieved 2015-08-16 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Pay Increases OK'd". The Pantagraph. January 15, 1981. Retrieved August 16, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Terry L. Bruce
5. IECC DISTRICT CEO TERRY BRUCE ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT PLANS
6. "Appointment Message 990127". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
7. "Terry L. Bruce". Illinois Community College Board. Retrieved February 12, 2014.

External links

• United States Congress. "Terry L. Bruce (id: B000971)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Appearances on C-SPAN

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress website http://bioguide.congress.gov.