Claude Stone Jr.

Claude Ulysses "Bud" Stone (April 30, 1926 – December 29, 2014) was an American politician who served as a Republican member of the Illinois Senate during the 92nd General Assembly. He was born April 30, 1926, to former Democratic Congressman Claude U. Stone and his wife Alma Marie Stone. He was raised in Peoria, Illinois, and graduated from Peoria High School. The 45th district, located in Central Illinois, included DeWitt, Logan, Mason, Tazewell, and Woodford counties along with the northern half of Piatt County and the southern portion of McLean County. Soon after, the decennial redistricting process split the territory of the 45th district into neighboring districts and placed Stone in the new 44th district with retiring incumbent John Maitland. Despite the open seat, Stone chose not to run. Instead, then State Representative Bill Brady ran for Senate. He defeated Rus Kinzinger in the Republican primary and former Democratic House Majority Whip Gerald A. Bradley in the 2002 general election. Stone died on December 29, 2014, in Galesburg, Illinois.