Thomas R. Donovan, patronage chief under Richard J. Daley and former CBOT president, dies at 88

Thomas R. Donovan, who served as patronage chief under Mayor Richard J. Daley in the 1970s and later became president of the Chicago Board of Trade, died at 88. He played a key role in Chicago politics, including helping appoint Michael Bilandic as acting mayor after Daley's death and maintaining political influence through patronage. Donovan left the mayor's office after Bilandic's 1979 election loss and worked at the Chicago Board of Trade until his death.