SR0402LRB101 12380 MST 60383 r


  
1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of former Illinois Senate President Thomas 
4Hynes, who passed away on May 4, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, President Hynes spent three years studying to 
6become a priest at Quigley Preparatory Seminary; he decided to 
7take a different path and enrolled at Loyola University; he 
8graduated in 1959; three years later, he graduated first in his 
9class from Loyola Law School; his first job as a lawyer was at 
10one of the city's most prestigious law firms, Jenner & Block; 
11he later taught law at John Marshall Law School; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, President Hynes was elected an Illinois State 
13Senator in 1970, and, only seven years later, became the 
14youngest president in the history of the Illinois Senate; he 
15was a  top member of the Democratic National Committee and also 
16headed President Bill Clinton's reelection campaign; and
 
17    WHEREAS, President Hynes was an early chief sponsor of the 
18Equal Rights Amendment, which the Illinois General Assembly  
19ratified in 2018; he was a major supporter of increased funding 
20for Chicago Public Schools; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, President Hynes served as Cook County 19th Ward 
 
 
SR0402- 2 -LRB101 12380 MST 60383 r

1Democratic Committeeman for three decades until 2005; he became 
2one of the most influential Democratic forces in Chicago; he 
3also served as Cook County Assessor and was author of the 
4State's homeowners' property tax exemption; and
  
 
  
5    WHEREAS, President Hynes demonstrated the basic power of 
6politics and public service by understanding and meeting the 
7daily concerns of constituents and organizing them into a 
8political force; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, President Hynes is survived by his wife, Judith; 
10his sons, Deputy Governor Dan Hynes, Matt Hynes, and Thomas 
11Hynes; his daughter, Leah Griffin; and 10 grandchildren; 
12therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
14ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
15former Illinois Senate President Thomas Hynes and extend our 
16sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew 
17and loved him; and be it further
  
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to  the family of  President Hynes as an expression of 
20our deepest sympathy.