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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to honor Thomas A. Oakley on being 
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named to the Quincy Chamber of Commerce "Business Hall of 
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Fame"; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Thomas A. Oakley is President and CEO of Quincy 
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Newspapers Inc. (QNI); Quincy Newspapers Inc. (QNI) is the 
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publisher of The Quincy Herald-Whig and also owns and operates 
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the Quincy Broadcasting Company, which includes WGEM-AM-FM and 
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TV, and many additional television stations across the midwest; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, He began his newspaper career as a newspaper 
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carrier, and worked during summer vacations while in high 
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school and college at The Quincy Herald-Whig and WGEM; after 
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graduation from Duke University in 1954, he returned to QNI 
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full-time prior to being called to active duty in the United 
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States Air Force; following flight training, he served as a 
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pilot in the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Upon returning from the Air Force, he spent a year 
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in management training, and was named Production Manager of The 
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Quincy Herald-Whig in late 1958; he became Business Manager in 
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1962, was named General Manager and Executive Vice President of 
 


 






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Quincy Newspapers and President of Quincy Broadcasting Company 
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in 1969; and he was made publisher of The Quincy Herald-Whig 
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and President and CEO of Quincy Newspapers Inc. in 1971; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Oakley presently serves with industry groups 
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in both the broadcasting and newspaper businesses and has a 
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long history in leadership roles with such groups; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has been involved in economic, industrial, and 
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highway development organizations in communities that QNI 
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companies serve; he was a co-founder of the Joint Industrial 
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Development Commission (JDIC) of Adams County; he is Chairman 
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of the Quincy Highway Committee, and has worked for over 40 
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years to secure better highways for Western Illinois and 
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Northeast Missouri; this work includes the Central Illinois 
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Expressway and Illinois 336; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He currently serves on the Transportation Task 
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Force of the Tri-State Economic Summit; he was a member of the 
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Board of Trustees of Quincy College for 14 years and served as 
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Vice Chairman of the Board; he served as Director of the Quincy 
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Chamber of Commerce, and as Chairman of the Chamber Area 
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Development Committee, and the Chamber Highway Committee;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Oakley has served on many boards with strong 
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involvement in fund-raising for a number of community groups; 
 


 






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he served as Chairman of the United Fund Industrial Division, 
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and Chairman of the entire campaign in 1968; he was Chairman of 
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the successful Quincy College Partnership Fund Campaign in 
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1974, and Vice Chairman of Advance Gifts for the $7.5 million 
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Blessing Hospital Drive; he served as Vice Chairman of the YMCA 
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Building Drive, and has worked on fund raising for the American 
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Red Cross, Girl Scouts of America, St. Mary's Hospital, and 
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others; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Thomas A. Oakley has been recognized with several 
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awards during his career, including the Quincy Jaycees' 
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Distinguished Service Award, and the Executive of the Year by 
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the Quinsippi Chapter of the National Secretaries Association; 
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he was elected as a Trustee and Regent of the Lincoln Academy 
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of Illinois; he was the first recipient of the Distinguished 
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Citizen Award by the Saukee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of 
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America; he received the Parker S. Gates Award for "outstanding 
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leadership in business, community service, and high ethical 
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standards"; he was a recipient of Quincy College's First Annual 
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Christian Borstadt Award, the Ike Grainger Award from the 
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United States Golf Association for over 25 years of service, 
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the Vincent Wasilewski Award From the Illinois Broadcasters 
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Association for a lifetime of Excellence in Broadcasting, and 
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the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Rockford 
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Airport Board of Commissioner; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS,
In addition to membership and leadership roles in 
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numerous trade and business organizations, he is a member of 
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the Rotary Club of Quincy, the Quincy Gun Club, the Quincy 
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College Mart Heinen Club, and the Quincy Country Club; Mr. 
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Oakley has served on the United States Golf Association's Green 
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Section Committee for over 25 years, and is also a member of 
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the American Senior Golf Association and the International 
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Seniors Golf Society; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Oakley is an avid golfer; he enjoys boating, 
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hunting, fishing, and skeet shooting; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He is the loving husband of Anne (McDonald) and 
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the proud father of three children, the late Thomas C.; Ralph, 
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and Mary; he also has five lovely grandchildren; therefore, be 
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it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Thomas A. Oakley on being named to the Quincy 
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Chamber of Commerce "Business Hall of Fame"; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Thomas A. Oakley as a sign of our respect.