Bill Brady, a Republican from Bloomington, Illinois, served in the Illinois state Senate from May 2002 to his retirement at the end of 2020. From July 2017 to his retirement he served as the Senate Minority Leader, years that coincided with the Governor Pat Quinn and J.B. Pritzker administrations. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to January 2001. During his entire tenure in the Illinois legislature Brady also maintained a thriving real estate and builder business in the Bloomington area.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Trump Visits Bloomington
Abstract
Interview Session (Audio) 01
Early life, college years and entry into Illinois politics to 1994
Interview Session (Audio) 02
Years in the Illinois House Republican Caucus & 2000 run for Congress
Interview Session (Audio) 03
Years in the Illinois Senate until December 2008 & reflections on Obama
Interview Session (Audio) 04
Blagojevich impeachment & trial, & the early Gov. Quinn administration
Interview Session (Audio) 05
Republican candidate for the gubernatorial election of 2010
Interview Session (Audio) 06
IL Senate experiences from 2011 thru 2014
Interview Session (Audio) 07
Gubernatorial election of 2014 & early Gov. Rauner administration
Interview Session (Audio) 08
Illinois budget crisis 2015-2017 and elections of 2016
Interview Session (Audio) 09
Legislation during the Gov. Rauner administration and election of 2018
Interview Session (Audio) 10
Gov. Pritzker administration in 2019
Interview Session (Audio) 11
Pandemic of 2020 and impact on legislature & his real estate business
Interview Session 12 (Audio)
Election of 2020 and Brady’s reflections on his legislative career
Photos
Caption:
Bill Brady was born May 15, 1961 in Bloomington, Illinois, the eldest son of William F. and Nancy Kelly Brady.
Where:
Bloomington, IL
When:
May 15, 1961
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Bill Brady’s parents had three sons. From left in this 1978 family photograph are Edward Brady, Bill Brady, Nancy K Brady, William F. Brady, and Robert Brady.
Where:
Bloomington, IL
When:
1978
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A wrestler at Central Catholic High School in Bloomington, Bill placed fourth in his weight class at the 1979 state championships.
Where:
Bloomington, IL
When:
1979
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Bill Brady (#57) and Ed Brady (#5) played football at Illinois Wesleyan University. Younger brother Bob Brady later played football at Villanova University.
Where:
Bloomington, IL
When:
1980's
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A portrait of Bill Brady taken about 1981.
Where:
Bloomington, IL
When:
1981
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Bill and Nancy True, a native of South Bend, Indiana, were married September 4, 1982. They met while students at Illinois Wesleyan.
Where:
South Bend, Indiana
When:
September 4, 1982
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
After winning his first primary election for the Illinois House of Representatives by eight votes, Bill went on to win the general election unopposed. He and wife Nancy celebrate the general election victory with Senator John Maitland of Bloomington.
Where:
Bloomington, Illinois
When:
1992
Ownership:
Bloomington Pantagraph photograph. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Bill Brady was sworn into first term in the Illinois House of Representatives on January 13, 1993. He is shown taking the oath office with his wife Nancy, children William and Katie, and Aunt Mary Kelly.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
January 13, 1993
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
In May 2002, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman administered the oath of office to Bill Brady to represent the 44th District in the Illinois Senate, filling out the term of Senator John Maitland who had resigned from office.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
May 2002
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Accompanied by his wife, Bill Brady files his nominating petitions for the 2006 Governor’s Race on December 12, 2005 at the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
December 12, 2005
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Illinois campaign chairman Bill Brady hosts a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate Fred D. Thompson on October 3, 2007 at the Chicago Club.
Where:
Chicago, Illinois
When:
October 3, 2007
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Bill Brady checks voting returns in the February 2, 2010 Republican primary election for Governor with (from left) campaign manager Dan Egler, son William, and volunteer Frank Biga. Brady would go on to win the seven-way contest by 193 votes.
Where:
Bloomington, Illinois
When:
February 2, 2010
Ownership:
Bloomington Pantagraph photograph. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Senator Brady prepares to talk to media on primary election night in 2010 with campaign manager Dan Egler and press secretary Jaime Elich. (Bloomington Pantagraph photograph.
Where:
Bloomington, Illinois
When:
February 2, 2010
Ownership:
Bloomington Pantagraph photograph. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Senator Bill Brady arrive for a Brady reception at the home of Dr. Larry and Connie Nord in Bloomington on June 16, 2010.
Where:
Bloomington, Illinois
When:
June 16, 2010
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady reviews his remarks for a campaign rally in DuPage County in August 2010.
Where:
DuPage County, Illinois
When:
August 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Candidate Bill Brady greets children along the 2010 Illinois State Fair Parade route in Springfield, Illinois.
Where:
Springfield, IL
When:
2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Bill and Nancy Brady walk in the 2010 Illinois State Fair parade in Springfield. With them in the background are former State Rep. Raymond Poe of Springfield and his wife Carol.
Where:
Springfield, IL
When:
2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Speaking at a Republican Day rally at the 2010 Illinois State Fair were gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady along with Judy Baar Topinka, candidate for comptroller, and Senator Dan Rutherford, candidate for treasurer.
Where:
Springfield, IL
When:
2010
Ownership:
Illinois Republican Party photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie campaigned for Bill Brady at a October 5, 2010 rally at the LRS Hangar in Springfield.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
October 5, 2010
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Nancy and Bill Brady in their Bloomington home in 2010.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
October 5, 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Candidate Bill Brady watches election returns in his hotel suite November 2, 2010 with campaign general manager Dan Egler and press secretary Patty Schuh.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
November 2, 2010
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Bill Brady endorsed Tom Demmer of Dixon, a candidate for State Representative, on March 13, 2012 during Demmer’s first run for public office.
Where:
Illinois
When:
March 13, 2012
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Assistant Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady listens to debate on the Senate Floor as the Senate nears adjournment in the spring of 2012.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
Spring, 2012
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Brady joined legislative colleagues on November 28, 2012 to support legislation allowing driver licenses for undocumented immigrants. With Brady were Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, Rep. Angelo “Skip” Saviano and former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
November 28, 2012
Ownership:
Senate Republican Photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Brady joined other key legislators when Governor Quinn signed pension reform legislation on December 5, 2013. From left to right are Brady, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, Rep. Darlene Senger, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin and Sen. Kwame Raoul.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
December 5, 2013
Ownership:
State of Illinois Photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senator Brady and other candidates for the 2014 Republican nomination for Governor participate in a debate sponsored by the Chicago Tribune and WGN News March 5, 2014. Shown in this “selfie” are from left, Kirk Dillard, Brady, Chicago Tribune editor Bruce Dold, WGN anchor Micah Materre, Dan Rutherford and Bruce Rauner.
Where:
Illinois
When:
March 5, 2014
Ownership:
WGN Photo. May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Gubernatorial candidate Bill Brady and his running-mate, Maria Rodriguez of Long Grove, watch election returns during the 2014 Republican primary election.
Where:
Illinois
When:
2014
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, Assistant Leader Bill Brady and Deputy Leader Matt Murphy confer on the Senate floor in 2016.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
2016
Ownership:
Senate Republican Photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
During President Barack Obama’ special trip back to Springfield to speak to the Illinois legislature on February 10,2016, he asked to meet with current Republican senators who served with him – Senators, Brady, David Syverson, Christine Radogno, Pamela Althoff and David Luechtefeld.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 10,2016
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption:
Flanked by colleagues in the Senate Republican caucus, out-going Senate Republican Leader Radogno and newly elected Republican Leader Brady answer media questions on June 30, 2017.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June 30, 2017
Ownership:
Senate Republican Photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
An official 2017 portrait of Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
June 30, 2017
Ownership:
Senate Republican Photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady watches voting in July 2017 on legislation ending a budget stalemate. Watching is Senate Republican Chief of Staff Phil Draves.
Where:
Springfield, Illinois
When:
July 2017
Ownership:
State Journal-Register photograph. This image is considered to be in the public domain.