Dirksen was born in Pekin, Illinois -about 120 miles southwest of Chicago, Illinois -where he grew up on a small farm. He served in the United States Army during World War I . His political career began in 1927 , when he was elected to the Pekin city council. After an unsuccessful first run for the House of Representatives 1929 , he was elected to that body in 1932 . factbug.org
U.S. congressional representative from Illinois (1933-49). U.S. senator from Illinois (1951-69). Father-in-law of Howard Baker He recorded four albums using his resonant bass voice, one of which, "Gallant Men", won a Grammy Award for Best Documentary Reco www.imdb.com/name/nm0228221/
...Chapter 3: Schools DIRKSEN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Table of Contents Joliet 86 Schools School Home Page School Hours School Report Card School... www.joliet86.org/Chapter3.SchoolTour.Pages.asp?SchoolID=67