Hugh W. Cross

Hugh Ware Cross was an American politician, lawyer, farmer, and businessman who served as chairman of the Interstate Commerce Commission, lieutenant governor of Illinois, and speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.

Early life

Born in Jerseyville, Illinois, Cross received his law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law. He practiced law in Jerseyville, Illinois, owned a farm, and was president of the Jersey County Abstract and Title Company.

Cross served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1933 until 1941. He was speaker of the house in 1939.

From 1941 until 1949, Cross served as lieutenant governor of Illinois. He was elected to the office in 1940, defeating Democratic nominee Louie E. Lewis. He was re-elected in 1944 The governor during Cross's tenure was fellow Republican Dwight H. Green, who had been elected in a separate coinciding elections in both 1940 and 1944.
Cross did not seek re-election in 1948, and left office in January 1949.

In 1949, Cross was nominated by President Harry S. Truman to serve on the Interstate Commerce Commission. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 14, 1950 to a term expiring in 1957.
In mid-1955, Cross became chair of the commission.
In 1955, the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations investigated Cross for a possible conflict of interest matter. Possible impropriety was alleged in Cross' provision of testimony as a character witness for shipping magnate John Keeshin. Cross was accused of providing the testimony in exchange for a job offer from Keeshin, an allegation that Cross denied. While the matter he had testified in support of Keeshin on was intrastate, some senators nevertheless found it potentially untoward enough to investigate.

Cross returned to his law practice and farm in Jerseyville, Illinois.