Richard Elrod

Born to a Jewish family in Chicago, Illinois, Elrod received his bachelor's and law degrees from Northwestern University.

Elrod's father was Arthur X. Elrod, a Democratic Party operative who would go on to serve as a Cook County Commissioner and Chicago's 25th ward's committeeman.[1][2]

Elrod was Chicago's Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1958 through 1970, and its Chief City Prosecutor from 1960 through 1970.[3]

Elrod served in the Illinois House of Representatives, in 1969, as a Democrat. While serving in the Illinois General Assembly, Elrod was seriously injured and left paralyzed while helping a Chicago police officer capture a man during the Days of Rage conflict in 1969.

Elrod was elected Sheriff of Cook County, Illinois in 1970, defeating Republican nominee Bernard Carey.[4] He would serve four terms. He was reelected thrice, first in 1974 (defeating Republican Peter Bensinger), then in 1978 (defeating Republican Donald Mulack), then in 1982 (defeating Republican Joseph Kozenczak).[5][6][7] In 1986, he lost reelection to Republican James E. O'Grady.[8]

From 1986 until 1988, he worked as the Senior Assistant Attorney General,[3] working under Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan.

Elrod was then appointed as a judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County in August 1988, where he continued to serve until his 2014 his death.[3] He died of cancer in Chicago, Illinois.[9][10]

In 1955, he married Marilyn Mann; they had two children: Steven Elrod and Audrey Elrod Lakin. After his death, services were held at Temple Am Shalom in Glencoe, Illinois.[11] His sister was Gloria Sheppard Bliss.