Biography
Thomas Foran was born in Chicago on January 11, 1924. He interrupted his college education to serve as a torpedo bomber pilot in the Pacific in World War II. After the war, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Loyola University Chicago and received his law degree at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, University of Detroit School of Law in 1950. Foran was a senior partner in Foran & Schultz (formerly Foran, Wiss & Schultz), the firm he founded in 1957. The other senior partners were Robert E. Wiss, who died in 1995, and Richard G. Schultz. In private practice, he established a reputation as an expert in eminent domain law, representing the City of Chicago in major public works projects, but he also acted as counsel for property owners. Foran became an assistant corporate counsel for Chicago in 1962.U.S. Attorney
Foran was appointed a United States Attorney for northern Illinois in 1968 with the support of the Chicago Mayor, Richard Daley. While in this role, he successfully prosecuted more than 150 organized crime figures, including Felix Alderisio, Jackie Cerone, Fiore Buccieri, Richard Cain and William Daddano Sr., William Daddano. During his time as the U.S. Attorney, he professionalized the office and shifted the office away from patronage.Post-U.S. Attorney
In the 1980s, Tom Foran represented former Governor Dan Walker (politician), Dan Walker in his bank fraud case. He died of cancer in Lake Forest, Illinois, on August 6, 2000.In popular culture
Harris Yulin played Foran in the 1987 film ''Conspiracy: The Trial of the Chicago 8'', and in the animated 2007 film ''Chicago 10 (film), Chicago 10'' Foran's voice was provided by Nick Nolte. He was portrayed by Steven Culp in the 2010 film ''The Chicago 8'' and by J. C. MacKenzie in the 2020 film, ''The Trial of the Chicago 7''. Gary Houston played Foran in the 1992 stage adaptation from transcripts titled ''The Chicago Conspiracy Trial'' and produced by Remains Theatre in Chicago.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Foran, Tom 1924 births 2000 deaths Loyola University Chicago alumni United States Navy bomber pilots of World War II University of Detroit Mercy alumni Lawyers from Chicago Military personnel from Illinois United States Attorneys for the Northern District of Illinois Chicago Seven