James Bowler
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Born in 1875, James Bernard Bowler was a political figure from Chicago, Illinois (USA). He was a professional bicycle racer as a young man before becoming an Alderman (City Councilman) in 1906. He served in the Chicago City Council until 1953, with hiatuses from 1923 to 1927 when he served as Chicago's Commissioner of Compensation, and in 1934, when he was Chicago's Commissioner of Vehicle Licenses. He was President Pro Tem of the City Council for eight years, and his 42 years in the City Council made him the longest-serving Alderman ever.
Bowler was the Chairperson of the City Council's remapping committee in 1923 when it became apparent that the fairest map would redistrict him out of his own 19th Ward. With no hesitation, he proceeded to remap himself out of the City Council. Four years later, he ran in the new ward in which he found himself residing, the 25th, and won.
In 1953, he became a United States Congressman for Illinois' 7th District. Bowler is considered to have been one of the five individuals most responsible for pushing through legislation that helped fund the building of the Congress Street (now Eisenhower) Expressway in Chicago.
He also was instrumental in creating the Illinois Medical District in Chicago, which contains several hospitals and other healthcare providers.
Bowler died on July 18, 1957, at age 82.
[edit] References
- Bike, William S. Streets of the Near West Side. Chicago: ACTA Publications, 1996, p. 22-23.
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