Alexander John Resa

Alexander John Resa (August 4, 1887 – July 4, 1964) was a Democratic U.S. Representative from Illinois who served one term in the United States Congress from 1945 to 1947. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he spent his early years in that city and was educated in the Chicago public schools. Seeking further education in a religious and liberal arts setting, he attended St. Joseph’s College in Kirkwood, Missouri, before returning to Chicago to pursue legal studies.

Resa enrolled at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1911. In the same year he was admitted to the bar and immediately commenced the practice of law in Chicago. His early legal career established him in the city’s professional community and laid the groundwork for his later roles in public service and legal education.

In addition to his private practice, Resa developed a parallel career in academia. From 1918 to 1942 he served as a member of the faculty of the John Marshall Law School, contributing to the training of future lawyers over more than two decades. His work as an educator coincided with a period of significant change in American law and governance, and he participated in shaping legal instruction during the interwar years.

Resa also held important positions in municipal government. He served as assistant corporation counsel for the city of Chicago, where he headed both the appeals division and the public improvement division from 1937 to 1944. In these roles he was involved in the legal oversight of city affairs, including litigation and matters related to public works and infrastructure, gaining experience in public administration and municipal law that would inform his later legislative service.

Building on his legal and governmental background, Resa was elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-ninth Congress, representing Illinois in the U.S. House of Representatives from January 3, 1945, to January 3, 1947. His term in Congress coincided with the closing months of World War II and the immediate postwar period, a significant era in American history marked by demobilization, reconversion of the economy, and the early stages of international realignment. As a member of the House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process and contributed to the legislative work of the chamber while representing the interests of his Illinois constituents. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress, concluding his congressional service after one term.

Following his departure from Congress, Resa returned to the practice of law in Chicago. He continued in private practice for more than a decade, drawing on his extensive experience in both public and academic roles, until his retirement on December 31, 1959. His post-congressional years were spent outside elective office but remained grounded in the legal profession that had defined his career.

Alexander John Resa died in Evanston, Illinois, on July 4, 1964. He was interred in Calvary Cemetery, reflecting his long-standing ties to the Chicago area where he had been born, educated, and professionally active throughout his life.