Judy Baar Topinka

Judy Baar Topinka (BSJ66) is a member of the Medill Hall of Achievement.

Topinka was the comptroller for the State of Illinois. She was elected in 2010 and re-elected in November 2014, but died of a stroke in December that year. In November 1994, she was elected to the post of Illinois State Treasurer. She was the first woman in Illinois history to hold this post and was the first Republican to be elected as State Treasurer in 32 years.

In March 2006, she was nominated as the Republican candidate for the Governor of Illinois. She was only the second woman and first Republican woman to be a candidate for the position.

Topinka began representing the people of Chicago's western suburbs when she was elected to the Illinois General Assembly as State Representative in 1980. After two successful terms in the House of Representatives, Topinka was elected to represent the 22nd District of Illinois Senate in 1984, where she served for 10 years. She was named Cook County Republican Committeewoman in June 1990 and served for two years.

Topinka engineered successful efforts in health care delivery and medical ethics, and soon became one of the nation's most respected legislators in the field. Her knowledge and ability led her colleagues to name her as chairperson of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee in 1992.

Topinka died in 2014.