HR0862 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0862 LRB099 15154 MST 39387 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of California winery entrepreneur, Raymond Twomey Duncan, who passed away on October 9, 2015, at the age of 84; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan was born on October 23, 1930 in South Bend, Indiana to Walter and Velma (nee Twomey) Duncan; he was raised in LaSalle, where he attended St. Bede Academy; he studied philosophy at the University of Notre Dame before joining the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, In 1958, Raymond Duncan moved to Durango, Colorado, where he founded Duncan Oil, an independent oil-and-gas operator; and

WHEREAS, A fondness of skiing also led Raymond Duncan to establish the Purgatory Ski Resort in 1968 in the San Juan Mountains; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan's entrepreneurial spirit eventually led him to California in 1970, where he began purchasing vineyard land in the Napa and Alexander Valleys; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan, along with winemaker, Justin Meyer, founded the Silver Oak Winery in 1972; together, with Raymond focusing on the financial and administrative end of the business and Justin overseeing the winemaking, the 2 grew Silver Oak into one of the most well-known and successful wineries in California; and

WHEREAS, Silver Oak Winery still operates today out of its original building, producing approximately 100,000 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon annually from the family's Napa and Alexander Valley estates; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Raymond Duncan and his sons, David and Tim, founded Twomey Cellars, which features Pinot Noir, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc wines from both Napa and Sonoma Counties; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan is also remembered as an avid philanthropist, with involvement in the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center, the Denver Art Museum, the Kent Denver School, the St. Helena Montessori School, and the Sonoma Academy; this year, along with his family, he enjoyed the groundbreaking for the University of Notre Dame's Duncan Student Center; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan was a gifted businessman and philanthropist who left a priceless legacy for people everywhere; and

WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan is survived by his loving wife, Sally; his 6 six children; and his 16 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Raymond Twomey Duncan, 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 the family of Raymond Duncan as an expression of our deepest sympathy and most sincere appreciation of his entrepreneurial spirit.