Ronald Reagan History,Birthplace Tampico,Illinois
Ronald Reagan 1911- 2004

Related Links: RONALD REAGAN BIRTHPLACE/MUSEUM (for hours of operation)

Ronald Reagan Memorial Service: Sunday, June 13, 2004; Tampico Middle School; 2:30 p.m.  Immediately following the memorial service, program includes 21-gun salute (Reagan Park), Refreshments (Fire Department).

Ronald Wilson Reagan, Republican, elected 33rd governor of the state of California, November 8, 1966, defeating two-term incumbent governor, Edmund G. (Pat) Brown; re-elected November 3, 1970. 40th President of the United States

Born in Tampico, IL on February 6, 1911 in a five-room flat over a bakery (later became the 1st National Bank). When Neil, 2 years old, was brought in to see his baby brother, he wouldn't look at him. His parents had promised Neil a sister.  Soon after "Dutch" was born, the family moved from the flat to a house on Glassburn Street. Mother, Nellie, a devout Protestant of Scottish-English descent. Father, John (Jack) - Irish Catholic who distressed his religious wife by periodic drinking binges. Dutch attended Eureka College. In his senior year, he arranged an athletic scholarship and part-time job for Neil to attend collage, too.  When Dutch was 2, Jack moved his family to south side of Chicago. They lived there 2 years and then moved to Galesburg - 3 years there;  Monmouth for 2 years, then, at the age of 8 years old they moved  back to Tampico for 1 year.

When Dutch was 9, the family moved to Dixon. Pitney furnished the money to set up a high-quality shoe store with Jack Reagan doing the work. Dutch lived in Dixon from 9 to 21 years of age. For seven summers he earned money by working as a life guard at Lowell Park. During the seven years or seasons, he pulled 77 people from the water.

This is the 'good life' to the guy who was born in Tamipco, Illinois, February 6, 1911, grew up in Dixon, Illinois and who at various stages before he hit Hollywood, was a football player, summer resort lifeguard and well known radio announcer. The radio announcing job led to the screen and except for a stint in the Army where he held the rank of Captain, he's been making movies ever since.

Some more about Ronald Reagan's biography - his education, besides his public schooling in Tampico, Monmouth, Galesburg and Dixon -  He received a degree in Economics and Sociology at Eureka College in 1932; Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Pepperdine College, 1970, worked his way through college - waited tables, washed dishes, taught swimming, lifeguarded; president of Student Body; Varsity Football (three years); captain of swimming team.

Many public services were held by Reagan: President of Screen Actors Guild, six terms; President of motion picture Industry Council, two years; Board of Directors, Screen Actors Guild, 14 years; represented motion picture industry (31 unions and all management groups); before House Ways and Means Committee of Congress on tax matters affecting industry; member, Board of Directors, Committee on Fundamental Education; member, Board of Directors, St. John's Hospital; served on Board of Trustees, Eureka College; received Humanitarian Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1962; chosen Father of the Year (motion picture industry) by National Fathers Day Committee, 1957.

Ronald had memberships in the Bel Air Presbyterian Church; Screen Actors Guild; American Federation Radio and Television Artists; Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, Friars Club; Lions Club; California Thoroughbred Breeders Association; Young Men's Christian Association; Republican Governor's Association, charman, 1969; National Advisory Board, Young Americans for Freedom.

(Transcribed from the Tampico Centennial Year Book 1875-1975, originally written by Bill Bovarsky)

Misc. Info on Reagan family:

Name: REAGAN, JOHN NEIL Sex: MALE Birth Date: 16 Sep 1908 Birthplace: ILLINOIS Death Date: 11 Dec 1996 Death Place: SAN DIEGO Mother's Maiden Name: WILSON Father's Surname:

Source Information: Ancestry.com. California Death Index, 1940-1997. [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2000. Original electronic data: State of California. California Death Index, 1940-1997. Sacramento, CA: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics, 19--. According to the 1930 census records, John and wife, Nellie, were both first generation born in U.S.


RONALD REAGAN TRAIL

Reagan Trail . Ronald Reagan was too ill to visit Illinois when a new Reagan Trail — connecting important sites in his early life — was dedicated in 2000, but his oldest daughter thrilled a crowd in tiny Tampico when she helped commemorate the occasion. . The late Maureen Reagan, the former president’s daughter with actress Jane Wyman, used a microphone on an auctioneer’s trailer that day as she spoke about her father’s accomplishments as the nation’s 40th president and her “Dad.” . At the time, Reagan was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease at his residence in California. . Tampico is one of the northernmost sites on the trail, which includes Reagan’s boyhood hometown of Dixon, Walnut, Princeton, Henry, Peoria Heights, Peoria, East Peoria, Washington and his college town of Eureka. . The trail later was expanded to include Monmouth and Galesburg, where the school and first-grade classroom he attended is still in use. Galesburg also is the town where Reagan’s wife, Nancy, grew up and attended school. . The trail’s designation is meant to draw more visitors to learn about Reagan history. More local history on Ronald Reagan is coming. Please check back often for continuous updates.

RONALD REAGAN TRIVIA

  • 1935 February 27 Enlisted as a private in the Army Reserve.
  • 1943 January 14 Promoted to First Lieutenant. July 22 Promoted to Captain.
  • 1945 February 2 Recommended for promotion to Major. July 17 Promotion to Major disapproved. December 9 Honorably discharged from the Army.
  • 1962 Fall Officially changed his party registration to Republican. He appointed the first woman to the supreme court, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. http://www.americanpresidents.org/presidents/president.asp?PresidentNumber=39 (this site has video of Amy and Lloyd - very good!)
  •  Did You Know? • He was the oldest man elected president.
  •  • He was the first Hollywood actor to be elected president.
  •  • He appointed the first woman to the supreme court, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
  •  • He sent United States soldiers into Grenada and commanded soldiers out of Lebanon.
  •  More... He dedicated the Vietnam Memorial.
  • His wife, Nancy Reagan, was known for her grace and commitment to the causes she believed in - particularly the "Just Say No (to drugs)" campaign.
  • He submitted the first trillion dollar budget to Congress. "What I'd really like to do is go down in history as the President who made Americans believe in themselves again." http://gi.grolier.com/presidents/ea/bios/40preag.html
  • Reagan interrupted his acting career in 1942 and served for three years in the U.S. Army, for which he made training films. After he was discharged, with the rank of captain, he began turning toward a political career.
  •  In 1947 he was elected president of the Screen Actors Guild, a union representing Hollywood personalities that was affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. He was reelected to five additional one-year terms and was responsible for negotiating several of the union's contracts. REAGAN 2020 (OFF SITE LINK)
  • 1937 Reagan enlisted in the Army Reserve as a Private but was soon promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the Officers Reserve Corps of the Cavalry. An agent for Warner Brothers "discovered" Reagan in Los Angeles and offered him a seven year contract. Reagan played George Gipp in his most acclaimed film, Knute Rockne -- All American (l940).
  •  Jul 22 1943 The Army promoted Reagan to the rank of Captain Dec 09 1945 The Army discharged Captain Reagan.
  •  1962 Reagan officially changed his party registration to Republican.

Reagan History Cont'd


(Click on any box below)

Reagan Photo Gallery
Reagan Message Board
 Newspaper clippings referencing various Reagan family members (click on link)
May 11, 1951 Newspaper Article 'Moon' Reagan - Noted Brother of Ronald, Visits Friends Here (Dixon) Dec. 24, 1946 News Article "Down Memory Lane with '23 Gridders"
Oct. 25, 1951 News Article "Homecomers Will Recall DHS Football Club of 1925, Team That Scored 63 in One Half" April 12, 1947 Photo & News Article (YMCA Band photo of Ronald Reagan)

 

 

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