Glendal William Poshard (born October 30, 1945) is an American educator and former politician who served as a Illinois State Senator and U.S. Congressman. He was also a Illinois gubernatorial candidate, and president of the Southern Illinois University system. Early life and career Poshard was born October 30, 1945, in Herald, Illinois. He served in South Korea with the 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army. Poshard is a three-degree graduate of Southern Illinois University. He received a bachelor's degree in secondary education in 1970, a master's degree in educational administration in 1974 and a Ph.D. in administration of higher education in 1984. After graduating from college, he taught high school, coached high school sports, and served as director of the Southern Illinois Educational Service Center in Benton, Illinois from 1975 to 1984. In the 1982 Democratic primary, Poshard challenged incumbent State Senator Gene Johns, but lost. After Johns' death two years later, local Democratic leaders appointed Poshard to the vacancy. Eve Johns, Johns' widow and an unsuccessful candidate for the appointment, opted to run as an independent. As no candidate ran in for the Republican nomination in the 1984 primary, local Republican leaders nominated State Representative Robert Winchester. In the 1984 general election, Poshard was victorious winning 47,230 votes to Winchester's 39,173 votes and Johns' 5,862 votes. In the 1986 general election, Poshard was reelected by a commanding margin against Republican candidate Richard Simmons of Marion. Poshard served in the Illinois State Senate from August 1984 to January 1989. Poshard resigned from the Illinois Senate on January 2, 1989 to take his seat in Congress. Local Democratic leaders chose State Representative Jim Rea from a field of fourteen applicants. Congressional service Poshard ran for U.S. Representative from Illinois' 22nd Congressional District and was elected in 1988. After Illinois lost a district as a result of the 1990 Census, Poshard's district was merged with the neighboring 19th District of fellow Democratic Congressman Terry L. Bruce. The new district contained 40% of Bruce's constituents from the old 19th and 30% of Poshard's constituents from the old 22nd. Poshard was able to win large majorities in the far southern part of the district and subsequently Poshard won the Democratic primary with approximately 62% of the vote. During the primary, Poshard was outspent $800,000 to $200,000. Poshard was reelected to another three terms. As Congressman, he was considered to be a social