Congressman Ray LaHood is a lifelong resident of Illinois who has been a committed public servant throughout his career.

Ray's grandfather was an immigrant from Lebanon who eventually settled in Peoria. Ray's parents ran a restaurant and tavern. Ray was born and raised in Peoria and he grew up in the blue-collar East Bluff neighborhood where he attended St. Bernard's Grade School. He attended high school at Spalding Institute.

Ray worked his way through Canton Junior College (now Spoon River College) and Bradley University from where he graduated with an education degree, which allowed him to pursue his dream of being a teacher. For six years, Ray taught social studies to junior high school students in Pekin and Peoria. It was during this time that Ray developed his passion for politics and legislation, so he decided to enter the political arena on the most grass roots of levels; as a precinct committeemen.

Ray and his wife Kathy then moved to Rock Island where he worked for the Bi-State Planning Commission and the Rock Island Youth Services Bureau. His stay in the Quad Cities also afforded him the opportunity to cut his teeth in the political process when he became the District Administrative Assistant for Congressman Tom Railsback.

In 1982 Ray was appointed to a seat in the Illinois House of Representatives. He served in this seat through that fall's election, though he came up short in his effort to be retained to the General Assembly.

Following his service in the State House, Ray and his family moved back to Peoria to pursue a tremendous opportunity: a job as with U.S. House Minority Leader Robert Michel.

Ray ran Mr. Michel's district offices and then in 1990 became Chief of Staff, overseeing the Minority Leader's operations both on Capitol Hill and in Illinois.

When Mr. Michel announced his retirement in 1993, Ray decided to run for election to the 18th Congressional District seat. After winning a three-way Republican primary, Ray won the general election during the historic election of November 8, 1994, the election which gave Republicans a majority in Congress for the first time in 40 years.

Ray has served with distinction during his career in Congress. As a credit to his parliamentary knowledge and fair demeanor, Ray is often called upon to chair the proceedings of the U.S. House. One of the hallmarks of Ray LaHood's career in Congress is his ability to bring a varied group of people together to work for the good of a community, the State, or on a particular issue. Just a few examples of this are his co-founding of the Bipartisan Congressional Retreat, being a leader among the members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation on issues important to the State, and convening meetings of local State legislators and elected officials to work on the priorities of local communities.

Ray has received many awards for his work in Congress. He was named the 2001 Ray A. Neumann Tri-County Citizen of the Year by the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Peoria. Also in 2001 he received the Frank Bellrose Illinois River Valley Conservation Award from the Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. In 1999, Ray received Peoria Notre Dame High School's Distinguished Alumnus award.

Ray and Kathy have four children--Darin, Amy, Sam, Sara--and are the proud grandparents of one granddaughter and three grandsons.

Ray LaHood Biography Summary

Ray represents the 18th Congressional District of Illinois
Currently serving 6th term in Congress

Re-elected on November 2, 2004 with 70.2% of the vote in the 18th District
Ray received almost 216,000 votes in the 2004 election, the most of any of the 19 Members of Congress from Illinois

2002 election: unopposed
2000 election: 67% of the vote
1998 election: unopposed
1996 election: 60% of the vote
1994 election: 60% of the vote

Education:

Bradley University (1971): B.S. in Education and Sociology
Canton Junior College
Spalding Institute high school
Honorary Degree: Eureka College (2002) Doctorate in Public Service
Honorary Degree: Lincoln College (2000) Doctorate in Political Science

Work Experience:

1982-1994: Chief of Staff for U.S. House Minority Leader Robert Michel (R-IL 18)
1982: Member, Illinois House of Representatives
1977-1982: District Administrative Assistant, Congressman Tom Railsback (R-IL 17)
Ray also worked for the Rock Island Youth Services Bureau, the Bi-State Planning Commission,
and was a junior high school social studies teacher for six years.

Personal:

Born December 6, 1945 in Peoria, Illinois
Roman Catholic
Wife: Kathy
Children: Darin, Amy, Sam, Sara
Four grandchildren