Glenn Goodart

Who is Glenn Goodart?

Ira Glenn Goodart was an American railroad conductor, hotel manager, county commissioner and county treasurer. Goodart was raised in Friendsville, Illinois, a small community outside of Mount Carmel, Illinois, in a German Catholic family. After trying a variety of menial jobs Goodart took a position on the New York Central Railroad as a conductor. He held the position with the New York Central until he lost his right leg during a violent train crash in the early 1920s.

After a period of joblessness and a period of time as an alcoholic, Goodart found employment as a hotel manager at a hotel in Wabash County, Illinois next to the Wabash River. Goodart was the second manager at the Grand Rapids Hotel and during his tenure he increased the hotel's notability. He stayed five years and much of the time the hotel was in severe debt due to unsuccessful events planned by Goodart and flooding. In 1929, Goodart burned down the hotel under suspicious circumstances. Earlier that year the United States Senate Committee on Commerce had decided to remove the dam at Grand Rapids, which attracted many tourists to the hotel.

After the hotel fire, Goodart became a politician and was elected to public offices in Wabash County. Goodart served as an elected official for 19 consecutive years in various positions with the county and city of Mt. Carmel. During his political career Goodart was a member of the Democratic Party and served as county treasurer, county commissioner, county assessor and ran multiple times, but was never elected, for constable and sheriff. Goodart died in November 1948, one year after reelection as county finance commissioner.