HR0035 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0035 LRB101 05534 ALS 50550 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Thomas J. "Tom" McAvoy of Hickory Hills, who passed away on December 25, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Tom McAvoy was born in Chicago to Walter C. "Babe" and Mary W. (Egan) McAvoy on July 17, 1951; he was raised in the Marquette Park neighborhood and graduated from Brother Rice High School in 1969; he enlisted in the United States Army in 1970 and served in the Vietnam War, where he was assigned to military intelligence, and was awarded the Bronze Star, the Soldier of the Month Award, and the U.S. Army Intelligence Command Certificate of Achievement; he was honorably discharged on June 22, 1973; he earned his degree in political science with a minor in sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1976; he then attended Northern Illinois University and earned a degree in Public Administration-Urban Management and Development; and

WHEREAS, Tom McAvoy held the position of Director of Information for the Water Quality Association before assuming the role of Chicago Office Manager for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs; he then worked for the Illinois Department of Public Aid, where he was the Pilot Program Evaluation Consultant; in 1985, he moved to the Illinois Department of Transportation, where he held the positions of Engineering Technician, Data Systems Specialist, and Accident and Data Evaluation Specialist; and

WHEREAS, Tom McAvoy was active in Chicago politics; he coordinated the recruitment, training, and assignment of volunteer election judges and pollwatchers at Project LEAP; he served as the Republican Committeeman for the 15th Ward and as a State Representative in the 82nd General Assembly; after moving to Hickory Hills, he continued his civic engagement by serving as a Republican Precinct Captain with the Palos Township Republican Organization and as the 3rd Ward Alderman in the City of Hickory Hills, a position he held until 2017; and

WHEREAS, Tom McAvoy was a member of the Hills Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Hickory Hills Sertoma Club, the National Lincoln Highway Association, the Illinois State Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association, the VFW Johnson-Phelps Post #5330, and the American Legion Darius-Girenas Post #217; he was a former member of the Teamster Union, Local 916, the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition Board of Directors, the Illinois Association of Highway Engineers, the Project LEAP Board of Directors, and Pi Alpha Alpha, National Honor Society for Public Administration, NIU Chapter; and

WHEREAS, Tom McAvoy received many awards and distinctions, including the Exemplary Friend of the Highway Award from the National Lincoln Highway Association; and

WHEREAS, Tom McAvoy is survived by his wife, Erin; his stepdaughter, Megan; his nephew, Tim; and the many constituents whose lives were improved by his service; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Thomas J. "Tom" McAvoy and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Tom McAvoy as an expression of our deepest sympathy.