RICHARD O. HART, a native of Benton, is the senior partner of Hart & Hart and has practiced law in Benton since 1954, following his graduation from Washington University (St. Louis, Missouri) School of Law.  He is a member of the American, Illinois and Franklin County Bar Association.  Richard is a fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the American Law Institute.  He is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and all Illinois State Courts.  Richard was a founding member of the Board of Directors of  Illinois Mutual Insurance.  Richard was, for many years, a member of the Board of Directors (and former three year President) of the Benton Area Chamber of Commerce.  Richard has also been named a laureate in the charter class of laureates by the Board of Regents of the Illinois State Bar Association in 1999.  He also received the Board of Governor’s Award in 1997 from the Illinois State Bar Association in recognition and appreciation of his service and contribution to the Illinois Bar Association and the State of Illinois.
  
He and his wife Carolyn live in Benton and are the parents of two sons.  Paul, who resides in Florida and Murphy, who is a partner in the firm of Hart & Hart.