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Jess McDonald - Governor Jim Edgar Project

From 1976-2003, Jess McDonald served four governors of Illinois, first as the Director of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, and then as the Director of the Department of Child and Family Services. While director of the DCFS, he dramatically increased the number of adoptions and improved the overall service and management of the agency, receiving numerous state and federal awards for his efforts.

Interview Links

Abstract

Interview Session 01 (Audio)

Early life & Vietnam War experiences

Interview Session 02 (Audio)

Work with Governor Thompson in the Bureau of the Budget

Interview Session 03 (Audio)

Service as Director of DCFS for Governor Edgar

Interview Session 04 (Audio)

Service as Director of DCFS for Governors Ryan & Blagojevich

Transcript


Photos

Caption
Jess McDonald, in the center, back, gets his photograph taken with orphan children and a Catholic priest at an orphanage in Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, where McDonald's unit, the 98th Quartermaster Battalion, was stationed.

Where:
Qui Nhon, South Vietnam

When:
1965

Ownership:
Narrator's photo

Caption
Jess McDonald speaks at the press conference announcing his appointment as the Director of DCFS on June 6, 1994, with an attentive Governor Edgar behind him.

Where:
Unknown

When:
June 6, 1994

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Jess McDonald, on the right, attends a Senate hearing with Senator Walter Dudycz, and Secretary of Human Services Howard Peters next to McDonald.

Where:
Illinois State Senate, Springfield, Illinois

When:
Unknown

Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.

Caption
Jess McDonald meets President Bill Clinton at the White House in the fall of 1998, where former Governor and Mrs. Edgar were honored with an adoption award, as was the Department of Children and Family Services.

Where:
White House

When:
fall of 1998

Ownership:
Unknown



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