IL HR1327

Illinois House of Representatives mourns the death of former U.S. Representative Philip M. "Phil" Crane, who passed away on November 8, 2014, at his daughter's home.

Rep. Crane served in the U.S. House of Representatives for more than 35 years from November 1969 to January 2005, representing Illinois districts in the suburban Chicago area.

Crane was a prominent conservative figure who taught history at Bradley University, supported Barry Goldwater's 1964 presidential campaign, and later supported Ronald Reagan; he served on the House Ways and Means Committee and was instrumental in founding or co-founding the Republican Study Committee, Heritage Foundation, and American Conservative Union.

Crane was born November 3, 1930, in Chicago; graduated from Hillsdale College in 1952; served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956; and earned a Ph.D. from Indiana University in 1963.

Crane is survived by seven children: Rebekah, Susanna, Sarah, Catherine, Jennifer, Carrie, and George.