George Lindberg

George Lindberg, the man who ran and won a State Rep. seat in the southeastern part of McHenry County and two townships deep all the way to Lake Michigan in 1966 (the year I ran for McHenry County Treasurer), retired in mid-December.

Lindberg ran for Illinois State Comptroller when the office was first on the ballot and won.

He helped define the powers of the office by challenging Governor Dan Walker’s purchase of lottery tickets without going out for bid. He did so by refusing to pay the bill.

When he lost his re-election bid, he became Attorney General Bill Scott’s second in command for two years before winning a Second District Appellate Court Seat. He won retention ten years later.

In 1989, at the recommendation of Congressman Henry Hyde, with whom he served in the Illinois House of Representatives, Lindberg was appointed by George H. W. Bush to the Federal District Court in Chicago. He served there until entering senior status in 2001.

Lindberg served in senior status until last month when he retired at age 80.

The son of a prominent Crystal Lake physician, Lindberg and his wife Linda lived in Crystal Lake until the festivals at the Dole Mansion across the street from their home made life unpleasant.

The couple then moved to Lake Forest, a shorter train trip to Chicago.

A couple of years ago they decided to move back to Lindberg’s hometown, Crystal Lake. But they don’t live within hearing distance of Lakeside Center.