SR0855 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0855 LRB102 26344 LAW 36434 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Thomas "Tom" Long of Godfrey, who passed away on January 28, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long was born to Virginia (Fransden) and John D. "Jack" Long in Kankakee on May 3, 1950; he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business and Accounting from Eastern Illinois University, where was a founding member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity; he earned his Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University School of Law and his C.P.A. from the University of Illinois; he served in the U.S. Army; he married Robin L. Barton on March 10, 2001; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long served as a law clerk for the U.S. Department of Justice and Locke, Purnell, Laney & Neely, P.C.; he was a tax specialist with Coopers & Lybrand, CPAs; he served as Madison County Assistant State's Attorney under both Don Weber and William Haine; he was C.E.O. and vice chairman of the Argosy Gaming Company; he was chairman of the board and principal shareholder of First National Bank of Grant Park and First Community Bank of Godfrey; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long was a member of the White House Advance Office, the Presidential Inaugural Commission for the 2001 Bush-Cheney Inauguration, and the Bush-Cheney 2000 Advance Team; he served as site representative for the Bush-Cheney 2000 Victory Train Tour, one of 22 electors of the Electoral College of the Republican Party for the State of Illinois, lead advance representative for former President George W. Bush to Principia College, delegate to the 1988 Republican Convention, and host to President George H. W. Bush in Madison County for the 1988 Lincoln Day Dinner and the September 1988 Campaign Rally in Alton; he also served as Madison County Republican Chairman from 1986 to 1991; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long was licensed to practice law in Illinois and Missouri; he was a partner with Farrell, Heil, Long & St. Peters, P.C.; he was then a partner with Farrell and Long, P.C.; he then served as of counsel with Farrell, Hunter, Hamilton & Julian, P.C.; he was currently serving as of counsel with Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard, P.C; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Madison County Bar Association, the Alton-Wood River Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois CPA Society, the Illinois Community Bankers Association, the Southern Illinois Employers Association, OSF St. Anthony's Health Center Board of Directors, and the Southwestern Illinois Growth Association; he was a member of Vaughn Hill Church of Christ; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long received the Significant Sig Award from the Sigma Chi Fraternity in 2017; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Stephen Long; his niece and goddaughter, Jacqueline "Jackie" Long; his brother-in-law, Michael Collier; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Martha Barton; and his nephew, Joshua Condellone; and

WHEREAS, Tom Long is survived by his wife; his daughters, Margaret (Mike) Long Kohl, Erin (Joe) Long Mays, and Emma Long; his grandchildren, Charlotte, Barrett, Louis, Marion, Elsie, and John; his former wife, Virginia M. Long; his brothers, Mike (Suzanne) Long, Dennis (Anne) Long, and Jeff (Diane) Long; his sisters, Mary Jo (John) Snyder and Mary Beth (Terry Siefert) Collier; his numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; his brother-in-law, Ron (Cheryl) Barton; and his sister-in-law, Rhonda (Patrick) Linders; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of John Thomas "Tom" Long and 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 Tom Long as an expression of our deepest sympathy.