Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SR1794
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Full Text of SR1794  100th General Assembly

SR1794 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Thomas F. "Tom" Leahy, who passed away on
4May 21, 2018; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Tom Leahy was born to Virginia and James Leahy Sr.
6on June 26, 1944 and grew up in Chicago's far north suburbs;
7always creative and entrepreneurial, he and his older brother
8would lay awake in their bunk beds hatching future plans about
9the family business; he graduated from New Trier High School in
10Winnetka and, like his parents, graduated from Northwestern
11University; he was a proud member of the Delta Tau Delta
12Fraternity; and
 
13    WHEREAS, On his 21st birthday, Tom Leahy was elected an
14officer of American Hotel Register Company, the family business
15and the world's premier hospitality supplier; he worked hard to
16grow its sales and, early in his career, helped negotiate the
17company's purchase of five competitors; he also guided the
18company's move to Northbrook and, in 1998, to its current
19headquarters in Vernon Hills; along with his brothers, he was
20instrumental in transforming American Hotel from a local
21printing operation into an international distribution company;
22he and his brothers served as third generation owners of the
23business, and he was Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors;

 

 

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1and
 
2    WHEREAS, Tom Leahy was committed to public service; as a
3child, he served as an altar boy, became an Eagle Scout, and
4helped his father with the family business years before
5formally joining the company; during his career, he served as
6Chairman of the Board of Advocate Condell Medical Center; he
7was a past president and former board member of the
8Transportation Management Association (TMA) and past board
9director of the Lake County YMCA; he was elected Man of the
10Year by the Green Oaks/Libertyville/Mundelein/Vernon Hills
11Chamber of Commerce on January 8, 2008; he was invited to act
12as grand marshal for the Vernon Hills Fourth of July parade in
132015; and
 
14    WHEREAS, A natural storyteller and the family historian,
15Tom Leahy's passion for the family business was never more
16evident than when relating detailed stories about the company's
17years of success; he loved to travel; he circumnavigated the
18globe three times and learned to fly an airplane at the age of
1918; he was always ready with a smile, a quick wit, or a warn
20hug; he loved to laugh and was generous and decisive; he
21embraced change and made a meaningful difference in the lives
22of his family, friends, employees, church community, and the
23community at large; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Tom Leahy was preceded in death by his parents;
2his sister, Kathy; and his brother, Patrick; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Tom Leahy is survived by his wife, Cathy; his
4children, Chris (Scott) Runkle, Dirk (Julie) Leahy, Barton
5(Cheryl) Leahy, Eric (Freedom) Leahy, Chanel Doree, and Ross
6Doree; his grandchildren, Paige, Brooke, Kyle, Brandon,
7Juliet, Bryson, Charlotte, Juniper, and Love; and his brother,
8Jim (Linda) Leahy; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
11Thomas F. "Tom" Leahy and extend our sincere condolences to his
12family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
13further
 
14    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Tom Leahy as an expression of our
16deepest sympathy.