Henry Horner was born to one of Chicago’s pioneering Jewish families. He attended the University of Chicago and became a lawyer, then served as a probate judge from 1915 to 1931. Horner became the first Jewish governor of Illinois in 1932 and served during the difficult years of the Great Depression. His administration was marked by integrity, conservative fiscal management, and a commitment to the needs of the indigent. In a city of bosses and gangsters, Horner’s apolitical style, honesty, and obsessive work ethic was sometimes a liability and accounts for his relative obscurity today. Horner Park, on Chicago’s North Side, is named for the governor.