SR0573 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0573 LRB094 18758 HSS 54140 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Thomas W. Birdsell of Beardstown on Sunday, January 8, 2006; and

WHEREAS, He was born November 7, 1941, in Beardstown to Fred and Maxine Armstrong Birdsell; he married Linda Lynn on June 7, 1970, at the First Christian Church in Beardstown; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Birdsell graduated from Chandlerville High School in 1959 and was employed at Lauder Junkyard in Beardstown until he began working as a prison guard at Joliet State Penitentiary from 1961 to 1963; from 1963 until 1969, he was employed as a Beardstown City Police Officer, and during this time also served as Beardstown Chief of Police; he was the youngest chief in the State of Illinois at that time; and

WHEREAS, He worked as a drivers license examiner for the Secretary of the State of Illinois from May 1969 until November 1969; in November 1969, he began his service as an Illinois State Police Officer until his retirement in December 1998, at which time he was a sergeant in Vehicle Investigation; from 1999 until his death, he was employed with Cass County Human Resource Center; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Birdsell was a faithful member of First Christian Church, where he served as a deacon and enjoyed his involvement in many of the church activities; he enjoyed repairing cars, traveling, and having coffee with his friends; he truly loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and family and deeply valued the time he spent with them; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Thomas W. Birdsell has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Linda Lynn; his mother Maxine Birdsell; his son, Travis (wife Angie) Birdsell; his daughter, Tierney Birdsell; his grandchildren, Michael and Madison Birdsell; his brothers, Jim (wife Christine) Birdsell and Gary Birdsell; his sisters, Alma (husband Larry) Schall, Carolyn (husband John) Rhea, and Pat (husband Don) Bingham; and his numerous nieces and nephews; he was preceded in death by his father; his brother, Fred Birdsell Jr.; his grandsons, Andrew Thomas and Gregory Brandon; and his nephew, Jamie Birdsell; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Thomas W. Birdsell, and we 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 his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.