Ray LaHood Height, Weight, Religion, Net Worth, Age, Biography

About (Profile/Biography):
Ray LaHood is an American politician and U.S. Secretary of Transportation who represented Illinois for 14 years in Congress. Born on December 6, 1945, in Peoria, he first worked as a teacher before entering public service. LaHood served in the Illinois House and later became chief of staff to Congressman Bob Michel. Elected to Congress in 1994, he developed a reputation for bipartisan cooperation and chaired the 1998 House impeachment trial. President Barack Obama selected him to lead the Transportation Department from 2009 to 2013, during Obama's first term. His career also includes transportation safety work, infrastructure policy, and oversight, along with a federal ethics investigation involving an undisclosed personal loan.
Early Life And Education of Ray LaHood
• Ray LaHood was born in Peoria, Illinois, on December 6, 1945, and grew up in a family with Lebanese American roots and traditions.
• He studied at Spoon River Community College and earned a 1971 bachelor's degree in education and sociology from Bradley University.
Political Career of Ray LaHood
• LaHood began as a junior high teacher, then worked in youth services and planning before joining congressional staff work in Illinois.
• He served briefly in the Illinois House, later became Bob Michel's chief of staff, and succeeded Michel in Congress in 1995.
• From 1995 to 2009, he represented Illinois's 18th District and served on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Transportation Secretary Career of Ray LaHood
• President Barack Obama nominated LaHood as Transportation Secretary, and the Senate confirmed him in January 2009 after bipartisan support.
• As secretary, he oversaw a department of more than 55,000 employees and a budget of about $70 billion across its missions.
• His agenda emphasized transportation safety, infrastructure investment, job creation, sustainability, and bipartisan cooperation in federal transportation policy.
Major Controversy Around Ray LaHood
• In 2019, LaHood entered a Justice Department non-prosecution agreement over a previously undisclosed $50,000 personal loan.
• The agreement required him to repay the $50,000, pay a $40,000 fine, and cooperate fully with the federal investigation process.
• DOJ said LaHood failed to disclose the transaction on required ethics forms and later made misleading statements to FBI agents.
Less-Known Facts About Ray LaHood
• LaHood presided over the 1998 House impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, a role associated with his bipartisan reputation.
• He did not sign the 1994 Republican Contract with America, reflecting his more institutional approach to congressional politics.
• His son Darin LaHood later entered Congress, creating a father-son connection in Illinois federal political history and service.
Awards And Recognitions Received by Around Ray LaHood
• The United States Association of Former Members of Congress gave LaHood its 2013 Distinguished Service Award for public service.
• His career has also been documented through a Miller Center oral history covering transportation, Congress, and bipartisan work.