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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of
4California winery entrepreneur, Raymond Twomey Duncan, who
5passed away on October 9, 2015, at the age of 84; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan was born on October 23, 1930 in
7South Bend, Indiana to Walter and Velma (nee Twomey) Duncan; he
8was raised in LaSalle, where he attended St. Bede Academy; he
9studied philosophy at the University of Notre Dame before
10joining the United States Marine Corps, serving in the Korean
11War; and
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1958, Raymond Duncan moved to Durango,
13Colorado, where he founded Duncan Oil, an independent
14oil-and-gas operator; and
 
15    WHEREAS, A fondness of skiing also led Raymond Duncan to
16establish the Purgatory Ski Resort in 1968 in the San Juan
17Mountains; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan's entrepreneurial spirit
19eventually led him to California in 1970, where he began
20purchasing vineyard land in the Napa and Alexander Valleys; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan, along with winemaker, Justin
2Meyer, founded the Silver Oak Winery in 1972; together, with
3Raymond focusing on the financial and administrative end of the
4business and Justin overseeing the winemaking, the 2 grew
5Silver Oak into one of the most well-known and successful
6wineries in California; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Silver Oak Winery still operates today out of its
8original building, producing approximately 100,000 cases of
9Cabernet Sauvignon annually from the family's Napa and
10Alexander Valley estates; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In 1999, Raymond Duncan and his sons, David and
12Tim, founded Twomey Cellars, which features Pinot Noir, Merlot,
13and Sauvignon Blanc wines from both Napa and Sonoma Counties;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan is also remembered as an avid
16philanthropist, with involvement in the Crow Canyon
17Archaeological Center, the Denver Art Museum, the Kent Denver
18School, the St. Helena Montessori School, and the Sonoma
19Academy; this year, along with his family, he enjoyed the
20groundbreaking for the University of Notre Dame's Duncan
21Student Center; and
 
22    WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan was a gifted businessman and

 

 

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1philanthropist who left a priceless legacy for people
2everywhere; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Raymond Duncan is survived by his loving wife,
4Sally; his 6 six children; and his 16 grandchildren; therefore,
5be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8mourn the passing of Raymond Twomey Duncan, and we extend our
9sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
10and loved him; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Raymond Duncan as an expression of
13our deepest sympathy and most sincere appreciation of his
14entrepreneurial spirit.