HR0526 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0526 LRB096 13215 KXB 27854 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Thomas Lowe of Crystal Lake on his induction into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, He will be inducted into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame on June 3, 2009 in Peoria at the 2009 Illinois Aviation Conference; and

WHEREAS, He is the co-founder of the National Stearman Fly-In, along with James "Jim" Leahy of Galesburg; the two men started the organization in 1972; the Boeing Stearman was a biplane used to train pilots during World War II; and

WHEREAS, He began flying after his graduation from Iowa State University in 1963 and joined the United States Air Force; and

WHEREAS, He owns two Stearman biplanes that he restored along with his wife, Nancy, including one of only four Stearman C3R Business Speedsters that still flies; and

WHEREAS, He retired in 2001 as a captain with United Airlines after 33 1/2 years; he also worked part-time after his retirement with Emery Air Charter in Rockford, so he could keep flying; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Thomas Lowe on his induction into the Illinois Aviation Hall of Fame and wish him the best in all his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Thomas Lowe as a symbol of our respect and esteem.