Rock (May 4, 1937 – January 29, 2016) was an American politician, and a long time Democratic member of the Illinois Senate who represented parts of the West Side of Chicago and Oak Park.
[2][3] Rock was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1970 to succeed Thomas A. McGloon, who ran for and won a judgeship.
[4] During his time in the Senate, the Illinois Deaf-Blind Service Center and School was established and the Regional Transportation Authority was created.
[7] In 1996, Rock was appointed to the Illinois Board of Higher Education and became its chair in April 1999.
[8] In 2012, Rock published his autobiography, Nobody Calls Just to Say Hello, co-authored with Ed Wojcicki.