In November, 1972, Roger Philip McAuliffe was elected State Representative for Illinois's 16th Legislative District.
He was re-elected to twelve successive two-year terms, prior to his drowning while fishing in northern Wisconsin on the day before he would have celebrated his 58th birthday.
The Illinois General Assembly passed a resolution to rename the Chicago North Drivers License Facility (of which he had been the manager before he became a legislator) the Roger P. McAuliffe Drivers License Facility.
[2] His son, Michael P. McAuliffe, was appointed to succeed him, and held the seat until his resignation in June 2019.
Between them, father and son represented this northwestern Chicago district for 46 years.