093_SR0097

 
                                     LRB093 11282 HSS 13048 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members  of  the  Senate  of  the  State  of
 3    Illinois  were  saddened  to  learn of the death of Gordon R.
 4    Thomas of Springfield on Saturday, March 8, 2003; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Thomas  was  born  on  July  31,  1925  in
 6    Rushville to J. Glenn and Birdella Reich Thomas;  he  married
 7    Evelyn Brandt in 1950 in Pleasant Plains; and

 8        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Thomas  graduated  from  Brown County High
 9    School  in  Mt.  Sterling  and  attended   Western   Illinois
10    University  in Macomb; he earned a bachelor's degree from the
11    College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois in 1950;
12    and

13        WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas valiantly served his  country  during
14    World War II in the 11th Armored Infantry Division of General
15    Patton's  Army  in  the  Battle  of  the  Bulge  in Bastogne,
16    Belgium; he was later transferred to the  9th  Air  Corps  in
17    Germany;  he  was discharged on May 26, 1946 holding the rank
18    of staff sergeant; he was awarded the  Purple  Heart  in  the
19    Army  hospital  in  Nancy,  France  and  the Good Conduct and
20    Expert Rifleman medals; and

21        WHEREAS,  Mr.  Thomas  worked   for   Country   Companies
22    Insurance in Jacksonville for two years; he later was a civil
23    engineer  for  the  Department  of  Transportation, Bureau of
24    Materials for 30 years; he retired  in  1983;  he  taught  an
25    agriculture  class for veterans of the Korean War at Pleasant
26    Plains High School from 1952  to  1954;  he  co-owned  Brandt
27    Consolidated;  and  he  was  involved in several agricultural
28    related enterprises and farming; and

29        WHEREAS, Mr. Thomas was an active and energetic member of
30    the community and participated in several  organizations;  he
31    was  a  member  of  the  Lions  Club, the Order of the Purple
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11282 HSS 13048 r
 1    Heart, the DAV, the American Legion,  the  Island  Bay  Yacht
 2    Club,  the  Sangamo  Club, the Jacksonville Country Club, and
 3    the  Illini  Country  Club;  he  was  an  avid  duck  hunter,
 4    fisherman, and golfer; and

 5        WHEREAS, The passing of Mr. Thomas has been  deeply  felt
 6    by many, especially his wife, Evelyn; his brother, Jim (wife,
 7    Rosalie)  Thomas;  his  several nieces, nephews, and cousins;
 8    and Ann and John Charland, Christine and Philip Grizzard, and
 9    Bret Williams; therefore, be it

10        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
11    ASSEMBLY  OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing
12    of Gordon R. Thomas and extend to his  family,  friends,  and
13    all  who  loved  him  our  sincerest  condolences;  and be it
14    further

15        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
16    presented to the family of Gordon R. Thomas as a token of our
17    deepest sympathy.