A long-time fixture on the Illinois polictical scene has died. Gene Callahan passed away early Monday at his Springfield home at 80.
Callahan served as an aide to US Senator Alan Dixon along with Lt. Governor Paul Simon. He was a newspaper columnist for the then Illinois State Register through much of the 1960s.
Callahan also was the chief lobbyist for Major League Baseball in the early 90s.
His daughter, US Representative Cheri Bustos, says a celebration of her father’s life will be held Friday in Springfield.