Longtime Illinois Court Clerk Dies of Cancer

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (CN) - Longtime Madison County Circuit Clerk Matt Melucci died of lung cancer. He was 69.

Melucci died overnight Thursday at his home, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Melucci has served as circuit clerk since 1992, but announced last September that he would not seek another term after his current term expired in December 2012.

"Matt was a wonderful circuit clerk, who introduced many innovations to his office," the Madison county judges said in a statement. "It was an honor to work with him. He was also admirably dedicated to his church parish, his faith, his colleagues and the people of Madison County. We will miss him very much."

Melucci was an army veteran and held a bachelor's degree in city planning and sociology from Rutgers University and a master's degree in urban affairs from St. Louis University. He became the first director of administration in Madison County in 1975.

In 1979, he became the executive director of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, and served as U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello's chief of staff from 1988 to 1991.

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