Topic: Mel Reynolds

Melvin Reynolds (born January 8, 1952) is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Illinois. His political career ended in scandal.

Reynolds and his twin brother, Marvin Jerry Reynolds, were born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, sons of the Rev. J. J. Reynolds and Essie Mae Prather. Reynolds moved to Chicago as a child. He received a Associate of Arts from one of the City Colleges of Chicago, and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Harvard University, with a M.P.A.. He also won a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford's program Lincoln College, received a (LL.B.).

Before entering politics, Reynolds worked as an assistant professor of political science at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. He also founded the Community Economic Development and Education Foundation.