HR0032 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0032 LRB095 06799 KXB 26915 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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

WHEREAS, He began his newspaper career as a newspaper carrier, and worked during summer vacations while in high school and college at The Quincy Herald-Whig and WGEM; after graduation from Duke University in 1954, he returned to QNI full-time prior to being called to active duty in the United States Air Force; following flight training, he served as a pilot in the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command; and

WHEREAS, Upon returning from the Air Force, he spent a year in management training, and was named Production Manager of The Quincy Herald-Whig in late 1958; he became Business Manager in 1962, was named General Manager and Executive Vice President of Quincy Newspapers and President of Quincy Broadcasting Company in 1969; and he was made publisher of The Quincy Herald-Whig and President and CEO of Quincy Newspapers Inc. in 1971; and

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

WHEREAS, He has been involved in economic, industrial, and highway development organizations in communities that QNI companies serve; he was a co-founder of the Joint Industrial Development Commission (JDIC) of Adams County; he is Chairman of the Quincy Highway Committee, and has worked for over 40 years to secure better highways for Western Illinois and Northeast Missouri; this work includes the Central Illinois Expressway and Illinois 336; and

WHEREAS, He currently serves on the Transportation Task Force of the Tri-State Economic Summit; he was a member of the Board of Trustees of Quincy College for 14 years and served as Vice Chairman of the Board; he served as Director of the Quincy Chamber of Commerce, and as Chairman of the Chamber Area Development Committee, and the Chamber Highway Committee; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Oakley has served on many boards with strong involvement in fund-raising for a number of community groups; he served as Chairman of the United Fund Industrial Division, and Chairman of the entire campaign in 1968; he was Chairman of the successful Quincy College Partnership Fund Campaign in 1974, and Vice Chairman of Advance Gifts for the $7.5 million Blessing Hospital Drive; he served as Vice Chairman of the YMCA Building Drive, and has worked on fund raising for the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts of America, St. Mary's Hospital, and others; and

WHEREAS, Thomas A. Oakley has been recognized with several awards during his career, including the Quincy Jaycees' Distinguished Service Award, and the Executive of the Year by the Quinsippi Chapter of the National Secretaries Association; he was elected as a Trustee and Regent of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois; he was the first recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award by the Saukee Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America; he received the Parker S. Gates Award for "outstanding leadership in business, community service, and high ethical standards"; he was a recipient of Quincy College's First Annual Christian Borstadt Award, the Ike Grainger Award from the United States Golf Association for over 25 years of service, the Vincent Wasilewski Award From the Illinois Broadcasters Association for a lifetime of Excellence in Broadcasting, and the Distinguished Service Award from the Greater Rockford Airport Board of Commissioner; and

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

WHEREAS, Mr. Oakley is an avid golfer; he enjoys boating, hunting, fishing, and skeet shooting; and

WHEREAS, He is the loving husband of Anne (McDonald) and the proud father of three children, the late Thomas C.; Ralph, and Mary; he also has five lovely grandchildren; therefore, be it

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

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