July 22 Illinois History Minute

It’s July 22nd, and two-term Illinois governor Jim Edgar was born in Oklahoma on this day in 1946. Speaking on WILL-TV in 2013, the Republican Edgar said the key to solving Illinois’ problems was bringing opposing sides together.

Also this week --- Early 20th century Broadway star Margaret Illington was born Maude Light in Bloomington in 1879. Illington starred in such hits as “The Two Orphans” and “Kindling”.

And LGBTQ activist Ruth Ellis was born in Springfield this week in 1899. Ellis moved to Detroit, where she lived to be 101, and became a matriarchal figure in the city’s Black gay and lesbian community.