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Rick Winkel

b. 1956

American lawyer

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About Rick Winkel

Born 1956. Rick Winkel is an American lawyer and politician.

Richard J. Winkel (born September 25, 1956) is an American politician and lawyer.

Early life and education Born in Kankakee, Illinois, Winkel received his bachelor's degree in economics at University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and his J.D. degree at DePaul University College of Law. He practiced law first in Bourbonnais, Illinois and later in Champaign, Illinois.

Career in politics In 1992, he was elected to the Champaign County Board. In 1994, he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives, defeating one term incumbent Laurel Lunt Prussing. From 1995 to 2003, Winkel served in the Illinois House of Representatives as a Republican. In 2002, he defeated Democrat and former Champaign mayor Dan McCollum to succeed longtime Senator Stanley B. Weaver in the Illinois Senate. He served in the Illinois Senate for one term from 2003 to 2007.

On April 26, 2010, Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno appointed Winkel to the Illinois Plain Language Task Force. The task force was assembled to conduct a study and propose legislative measures designed to realize: (1) the potential benefits of incorporating plain language in State government documents, statutes, and contracts; and (2) how plain language principles might be incorporated into the statutes governing contracts among private parties so as to provide additional protections to Illinois consumers, to reduce litigation between private parties over the meaning of contractual terms, and to foster judicial economy.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
DePaul University College of Law, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Positions held
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives, Member of the State Senate of Illinois
Employers
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

People in Rick Winkel's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Rick Winkel's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Rick Winkel?

American lawyer

When was Rick Winkel born?

Rick Winkel was born on 25 September 1956 in Kankakee.

What is Rick Winkel's occupation?

Rick Winkel is a lawyer and politician.

What nationality is Rick Winkel?

Rick Winkel is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Rick Winkel

· Wikidata: Q18749296

· DBpedia: Rick Winkel

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Rick Winkel. https://biography.guide/rick-winkel/

MLA: "Rick Winkel." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/rick-winkel/.

Chicago: "Rick Winkel." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/rick-winkel/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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