Background
Railsback, Tom was born on January 22, 1932 in Moline, Illinois, United States. Son of Fred and Elizabeth Johnston Railsback.
United States Representative from Illinois
Railsback, Tom was born on January 22, 1932 in Moline, Illinois, United States. Son of Fred and Elizabeth Johnston Railsback.
Railsback attended public schools in Moline, received a Bachelor of Arts from Grinnell College in 1954. And a Juris Doctor from Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago in 1957.
He served in the United States Army from 1957-1959. He was elected in 1966 defeating freshman Democrat Gale Schisler in a hotly competitive race. The race was a very friendly one with little to no negative attacks on each other, though Railsback credited his victory to the unpopularity of President Lyndon Johnson.
A moderate Republican, he served on the House Judiciary Committee in the mid-1970s.
He voted for one of the articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon when they were pending in committee, one of six Republicans to support at least one article. In 1980, the Congressman was one of three United States. House members (the others were future Vice President Dan Quayle (R-Indiana) and Tom Evans (R-Delaware)) involved in the controversial Florida golfing trip with lobbyist Paula Parkinson.
In 1982, Railsback"s district was renumbered as the 17th District. Illinois had lost two districts after the 1980 census.
He was defeated for renomination by a considerably more conservative Republican, State Senator Kenneth G. McMillan.
McMillan was defeated by Democrat Lane Evans in November. After leaving Congress, he worked as a lobbyist for the telecommunications industry and federal judges association. Election of November 8, 1966
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 77,895 52%
Gale Schisler(Doctorate) - 71,050 48%
Election of November 5, 1968
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 114,948 63%
Craig Lovitt (Doctorate) - 66,135 37%
Election of November 3, 1970
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 92,247 68%
James L. Shaw (Doctorate) - 43,094 32%
Election of November 7, 1972
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 138,123 100%
Election of November 4, 1974
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 84,049 65%
James Gende (Doctorate) - 44,677 35%
Election of November 2, 1976
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 132,571 68%
John Craver (Doctorate) - 60,967 32%
Election of November 7, 1978
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 89,770 100%
Election of November 4, 1980
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 142,616 73%
Thomas J. Hand (Doctorate) - 51,753 27%
Primary Election of March 16, 1982
Kenneth G. McMillan (R) - 24,147 51%
Thomas F. Railsback (R) - 23,068 49%.
Member of America, Illinois & Rock Island County Bar Associations, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Desert (former board director), America Red Cross, Grinnell College Alumni (board director).
Married Joyelyn S. Railsback. Children: Kathryn, Julia, Margaret Ann, Lisa.