William J. Scott (Illinois politician)

William J. Scott (November 11, 1926 – June 22, 1986) was an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he served as Treasurer of Illinois from 1963 until 1967 and as Illinois Attorney General from 1969 until his disqualification from office following his conviction of a tax crime.

William Scott
36th Illinois Attorney General
In office
January 13, 1969 – July 29, 1980
GovernorRichard B. Ogilvie
Dan Walker
James R. Thompson
Preceded byWilliam Clark
Succeeded byTy Fahner
62nd Treasurer of Illinois
In office
January 14, 1963 – January 9, 1967
GovernorOtto Kerner Jr.
Preceded byFrancis S. Lorenz
Succeeded byAdlai Stevenson III
Personal details
BornNovember 11, 1926
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJune 22, 1986(1986-06-22) (aged 59)
Palos Heights, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican

Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Scott served in the United States Naval Air Corps during World War II. He then received his law degree from Chicago–Kent College of Law in 1950 and then practiced law. In 1959, he helped the United States Government with a crackdown on organized crime. He then became vice president of a bank.

In 1962, he was elected Illinois State Treasurer, as a Republican, and served until 1967.

Elected in 1968, he served as Illinois Attorney General until his resignation in 1980.

In 1980 he unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

He was indicted and convicted for understating his 1972 United States income tax in 1972 and in 1982 while running for the US Senate, he was found guilty and sentenced to a year and a day in prison. He died at his home, in Palos Heights, Illinois, of a heart attack.[1][2][3]

Notes
  1. Illinois Blue Book 1979-1980, Biographical Sketch of William J. Scott, pg. 20–21
  2. Edward Baumann and Valerie J. Phillips, CHICAGO TRIBUNE (June 23, 1986). "EX-ATTY. GEN. WILLIAM SCOTT DEAD AT 59". chicagotribune.com.
  3. WILLIAM C. HIDLAY (June 23, 1986). "Former Illinois Attorney General, Once Convicted of Tax Fraud, Dies". apnews.com.


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