Representative John Neal Erlenborn

John Neal Erlenborn (February 8, 1927 – October 30, 2005) was an American lawyer and Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois, serving ten consecutive terms in Congress from 1965 to 1985. Over the course of two decades, he represented first Illinois’s 14th congressional district and, following redistricting in the early 1980s, the 13th district. A member of the Republican Party, he contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history, participating in the democratic process and representing the interests of his constituents during the 89th through the 98th Congresses.

Erlenborn was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 8, 1927. He was raised in the Chicago area and attended Immaculate Conception High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. After completing his secondary education, he enrolled at Loyola University Chicago, where he pursued undergraduate studies. He continued at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, receiving the legal training that would form the foundation of his professional career as an attorney and later as a legislator.

Before entering Congress, Erlenborn practiced law, establishing himself in the legal profession in Illinois. His background as a lawyer informed his approach to public service and legislative work, particularly in areas involving legal process and civil rights. His legal expertise and Republican affiliation positioned him to seek federal office at a time of substantial social and political change in the United States during the 1960s.

Erlenborn was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1964 election and took office in January 1965 with the 89th Congress. He represented Illinois’s 14th district for much of his tenure, later serving the 13th district after redistricting in the 1980s. During his time in Congress, he participated in major legislative debates of the era. Notably, he voted against the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but supported the Civil Rights Act of 1968, reflecting a nuanced record on civil rights legislation. Throughout his ten terms, he was an active member of the House, contributing to the legislative process and advocating for the interests of his suburban Illinois constituents during a period marked by the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and evolving domestic policy.

Erlenborn’s congressional service spanned from January 1965 to January 1985, encompassing the 89th through the 98th U.S. Congresses. Over these twenty years, he developed a reputation as a serious legislator with a strong interest in legal and procedural issues. He chose to retire from the House at the conclusion of the 98th Congress, leaving office in January 1985 after a full decade of continuous re-election and service.

Following his retirement from Congress, Erlenborn remained active in legal and public affairs. He joined the faculty of Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., as an adjunct professor, where he drew on his experience as both a lawyer and former legislator to teach and mentor law students. In addition, he was appointed to the board of the Legal Services Corporation, the federally established nonprofit that funds civil legal aid for low-income Americans. He served as a board member of the Legal Services Corporation from 1989 to 2001, helping to oversee and guide the organization’s efforts to expand access to justice.

In his later years, Erlenborn’s legacy as a congressman and legal educator was preserved through the archiving of his professional papers. The majority of his papers and other materials created during his time in office are held at the archives of Benedictine University in Illinois, providing a resource for scholars and the public interested in his career and the legislative history of his era. John Neal Erlenborn died on October 30, 2005, at the age of 78, after suffering from Lewy body disease. His long tenure in Congress, subsequent academic service, and work with the Legal Services Corporation marked him as a significant figure in late twentieth-century Illinois and national public life.