RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States from 1981-1989, was born on February 6, 1911 to Nelle and John ("Jack") Reagan in Tampico, Illinois. He would attend high school in nearby Dixon. Reagan was given the nickname "Dutch" soon after his birth by his father who said he looked like "a fat little Dutchman" and the "Dutch boy" haircut his mother gave him when he was a toddler strengthened the use of the nickname.

Jack, Nelle, Neil and Ronald Reagan relocated to Dixon, Illinois from Tampico on December 6, 1920. H. C. Pitney, also from Tampico, together with Jack Reagan opened the Fashion Boot Shop in Dixon on March 19, 1921. The Reagan family's first home in Dixon was located at 816 S. Hennepin Avenue, now the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. Both Neil (his older brother) and Ronald attended South Side schools from 1920 until 1923. Despite moving across the river, Ronald completed the already begun 7th grade semester at the South Central School. In September 1923 he entered the 8th grade at North Central grade school. In September, 1924, Ronald entered the North Side High School. In November of 1926 the Reagan family moved again, this time to 226 Lincolnway. Ronald was graduated from North Dixon High School in the class of 1928.

After graduation from Dixon, Reagan worked his way through Eureka College. There, he studied economics and sociology, played on the football team, and acted in school plays. Upon graduation, he became a radio sports announcer. A screen test in 1937 won him a contract in Hollywood. During the next two decades he appeared in 53 films.

From his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman, he had two children, Maureen and Michael. Maureen passed away in 2001. In 1952 he married Nancy Davis, who was also an actress, and they had two children, Patricia Ann and Ronald Prescott.

Initially a Democrat, after many years as sports announcer, movie and TV actor, Screen Actors Guild president, and Republican California Governor, Ronald Reagan won the Republican Presidential nomination in 1980 and chose as his running mate former Texas Congressman and United Nations Ambassador George Bush. Voters troubled by inflation and by the year-long confinement of Americans in Iran swept the Republican ticket into office. Reagan won 489 electoral votes to 49 for President Jimmy Carter.

On January 20, 1981, Reagan took office. Only 69 days later he was shot by would-be assassin John W. Hinckley, Jr. but quickly recovered and returned to duty. His grace and wit during the dangerous incident caused his popularity to soar. A renewal of national self-confidence by 1984 helped Reagan and Bush win a second term with an unprecedented number of electoral votes.

Stricken with incurable Alzheimer's for the last decade of his life, Ronald Reagan peacefully passed away on June 5, 2004 at the age of 93.