Robert W. McCarthy

Robert W. McCarthy
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 28th district
In office 1954–1961
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 28th District, 50th District, and 51st district
In office 1961–1977
Personal details
Born	(1924-05-28)May 28, 1924 Lincoln, Illinois, U.S.
Died	March 19, 2015(2015-03-19) (aged 90) Decatur, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Lincoln College University of Illinois
Occupation	attorney

Robert W. McCarthy (May 28, 1924 – March 19, 2015) was an American politician in the state of Illinois.

McCarthy attended Lincoln College and the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, earning a law degree. At the University of Illinois, he also played on the football team. He also served with the United States Army during World War II. McCarthy then practiced law in Decatur, Illinois (McCarthy, Rowden & Baker). He also was secretary-treasurer of the Arcade Loan Company and Lincoln Speedway, Inc., and a public administrator and sewer attorney in Logan County and the city of Lincoln respectively. He was elected as a Democrat to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1954 to serve the Decatur area, serving until 1961. In 1960, McCarthy was elected to the 28th Senatorial district, from which he was re-elected in 1964. He was redistricted into the 50th Senatorial District, from he was re-elected in 1966 and 1970. Finally, he was redistricted once more, into the 51st Senatorial District, from which he was re-elected in 1972. He would serve there until 1977, after losing a re-election bid in 1976 to Republican Decatur Mayor James H. Rupp. He returned to law practice after his legislative career.