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
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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.