SR0018 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0018 LRB095 05355 KXB 25439 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Thomas G. Lyons of Chicago, who passed away on January 12, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Lyons, the 45th ward committeeman, was first elected the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party in 1970, a position he held for nearly seventeen years; he was a native of Chicago, a former police officer and an attorney since 1957; he served as chief attorney for the Cook County Assessor's Office from 1958 to 1960 before joining the office of the Illinois Attorney General; and

WHEREAS, He was elected State Senator in 1964; the next year he was elected to serve in a leadership role for the State commission studying the need for a new State constitution; he was later elected a delegate to the 1970 Constitutional Convention, serving as vice-president during the drafting of the 1970 Illinois Constitution; and

WHEREAS, While serving in the Illinois Senate he served as chairman of the appropriations committee; and he served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from 1968 to 2000; and

WHEREAS, Thomas Lyons was named a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre by the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin and was awarded a Medal of Excellence by the Loyola University Chicago School of Law; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Lyons was named by former President Bill Clinton to the American Battle Monuments Commission as a reflection of his dedication to military service; in the 1950s Mr. Lyons served in the United States Army and became a captain of the Army Rangers; and

WHEREAS, Thomas G. Lyons is survived by his loving wife, Ruth; his sons, Frank and Thomas; his daughters, Alexandra Cooney and Rachel Cooper; his eight grandchildren; and many good friends and admirers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Thomas G. Lyons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Thomas G. Lyons as an expression of our deepest sympathy for their loss.