Background
Bruce, Terry Lee was born on March 25, 1944 in Olney, Illinois, United States.
Bruce, Terry Lee was born on March 25, 1944 in Olney, Illinois, United States.
Born in Olney, Illinois, Bruce graduated from East Richland High School in Olney in 1962, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1966, and from the University of Illinois Law School in Urbana in 1969.
He was admitted to the bar in 1969. When he announced his candidacy for the Illinois Senate in November 1969, he was occupied as an attorney in Olney, Illinois. Bruce's initial election to the Illinois Senate representing the 55th District in 1971 was in part made possible by the retirement of the incumbent, Paul Broyles.
In 1972, the incumbent Bruce faced a challenge from Henry Hendren for representation of the 54th district. In 1981, Bruce was among those who opposed an "eleventh-hour action", ultimately accepted, to increase Illinois General Assembly compensation. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the 96th Congress in 1978.
Defeating Dan Crane who was implicated in a sex scandal, Bruce was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-ninth and to the three succeeding Congresses and served as United States Representative for the nineteenth district of Illinois from January 3, 1985 – January 3, 1993. He was an unsuccessful candidate for renomination in 1992 to the 103rd Congress. Bruce is the chief executive officer of Illinois Eastern Community Colleges (IECC) with colleges in Olney, Fairfield, Robinson, and Mt.
Carmel. Governor Pat Quinn has appointed Terry L. Bruce, a former president of the ICCB, to the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB)in September 2012. He replaces former ICCB member Dianne Meeks. His term expires on June 30, 2013.
He served as vice president of federal regulations for a regional telephone company.
Bruce served as member of the Illinois Senate from 1971 to 1984, and assistant majority leader from 1975 to 1984.
Married Charlotte Roberts. Children: Emily Anne, Ellen Catherine.