Gale Schisler

Darwin Gale Schisler was born March 2, 1933, on a farm in Indian Point Township, Knox County, Illinois.^[1] He attended public schools culminating in graduating from Abingdon High School in 1951. In 1952, he enlisted in the United States Air Force serving for forty five months including ten months overseas in France. After his honorable discharge, Schisler began attending Western Illinois University. While attending Western Illinois University, he was a letter winning football player and married Carolyn Cochran with whom he had three children.^[2] In 1959, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in education and took a job teaching at London Mills Junior High School. One year later, he became the school's principal. In 1962, he earned a Master of Arts in school administration from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College.^[3]

In 1964, the Democrats in Illinois' 19th Congressional District had no candidate in the primary for U.S. representative. Friends of Schisler started a write-in campaign that successfully placed Schisler on the November ballot.

In a surprising upset, he defeated incumbent Robert T. McLoskey in the predominantly Republican district which included Fulton, Henderson, Henry, Knox, Mercer, Rock Island and Warren counties in Western Illinois.^[4][5]

Upon being sworn in, he was assigned to the House Science and Astronautics Committee.^[3]

While in Congress, he was a supporter of President Johnson's agenda voting in favor of his Great Society legislation including the Voting Rights Act of 1965,^[6] the creation of Medicare and Medicaid,^[7] and the Higher Education Act of 1965.^[8] He was in favor of home-rule for Washington, D.C. and signed a discharge petition to get President Johnson's preferred bill out of committee. He voted against B.F. Sisk's compromise bill that provided home rule, but only with numerous delays and stipulations.^[9] He was a supporter of repealing the "right to work" provisions in Taft Hartley.

In 1965, court order reapportionment of congressional districts moved Whiteside County into the 19th district bringing thousands of Republican voters into the already heavily Republican district.^[10] Shortly after, State Representative Tom Railsback of Moline announced his intention to stand against Schisler in the 1966 general election.^[11] Schisler was unable to overcome the partisan tilt of the new district and lost to Railsback in November. Schisler's cause was further hurt by the widespread belief that the White House was apathetic to his reelection bid.^[12]

After his loss, he was appointed as an assistant to Governor Otto Kerner Jr. leading the newly created Office of Intergovernmental Cooperation. The office was designed to coordinate state, federal and local programs and projects.^[13] He was also the staff liaison for the General Assembly's Intergovernmental Cooperation Commission. When Kerner resigned, he continued this role under Samuel H. Shapiro.^[14]