SR0774 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0774 LRB099 13192 MST 37090 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of James Francis Thornton of Bloomington, who passed away on July 11, 2015; and

WHEREAS, James Thornton was born in Lima, Peru on October 23, 1942 to Frank B. and S. Eleanor (nee McComiskey) Thornton; he was raised in Myrtle, Ontario and graduated from Whitby High School in 1960; he married Frankie in Fredericton, New Brunswick on October 17, 1964 and graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1967 as an electrical engineer; and

WHEREAS, James Thornton was hired by Firestone out of college as an engineer in Hopewell, Virginia; he worked for Firestone, America OTR, and then Bridgestone, eventually moving to Bloomington in 1983, where he finished out his working career as director of manufacturing for Bridgestone; and

WHEREAS, James Thornton was an athlete of several sports (wrestling, hockey, swimming, diving, golf), a wicked pool player, a brilliant card player, and harbored a complete command (which he loved to share) of the finest scotches in the world; and

WHEREAS, James Thornton was preceded in death by his parents; and

WHEREAS, James Thornton is survived by his wife of 50 years, Frankie; his sisters, Susan (Jerry Foreman) and Mary (Posa) Shultz; his brother, Peter Thornton; his 2 daughters, Dr. Sherri (Dr. Matthew Fraker) Thornton and Jami Thornton; his 3 grandchildren, Dixon and Hayden Fraker and Parker Thornton; his nephews, Mike Foreman, Jim Foreman, and Jonathan Thornton; and his niece, Cathy Foreman; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of James Francis Thornton, 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 James Thornton as an expression of our deepest sympathy.