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91_SR0171
LRB9107666KBkb
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3 to learn of the death of Theodore David Thomas, Sr., of East
4 St. Louis, Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, Theodore David Thomas, Sr., affectionately known
6 as "T.D." was born on May 2, 1907, in Ackerman, Mississippi
7 to the union of the late Monroe "Tom" and Georgia (Moore)
8 Thomas; he was the oldest of five brothers and two sisters;
9 T.D. accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age; and
10 WHEREAS, Although he was a strong believer in education,
11 he left school early to work so that his siblings could
12 continue their education; T.D. was later instrumental in
13 starting a school for black children in Elmo, Missouri; and
14 WHEREAS, While in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he met and
15 wed Helen Cole; four children were born to this union, three
16 daughters, Mary Louise, Charlotte, and Denise and one son,
17 Theodore, Jr.; and
18 WHEREAS, T.D. Thomas was the first black mechanic
19 certified by the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in Cape
20 Girardeau, Missouri; he became a very active member of the
21 United Steel Workers of America, AFL-CIO in 1942 and
22 continued to work with the Union well past his retirement
23 from the American Steel Foundry; and
24 WHEREAS, In East St. Louis he worked for the South End
25 Hardware, as a staff representative for the Job Corps, and
26 owned Mary's Confectionery and Beauty Shop; he was a
27 committeeman for Boy Scout Troop #275, and worked with the
28 Jackie Robinson Baseball League; Mr. Thomas also served on
29 the Citizens Utility Board; he had an avid interest in the
30 workings of State and local government; he was well informed
31 about legislation being considered and passed by the Illinois
-2- LRB9107666KBkb
1 General Assembly; he was the proud recipient of copies of the
2 Illinois Revised Statutes; and
3 WHEREAS, T.D. was a recreational airplane pilot; he was
4 well known for his love of fishing, boating, gardening, and
5 cultivating flowers; and
6 WHEREAS, Theodore David Thomas, Sr., "T.D." departed this
7 life on July 31, 1999; he leaves to cherish this life, his
8 wife of more than 50 years, Helen; his three daughters, Mary
9 Louise Thomas-Murphy and Charlotte Thomas-Reed, both of East
10 St. Louis, Illinois, and Denise (Raymond) Porter of St.
11 Louis, Missouri; his son, Theodore D. Thomas, Jr., of
12 Springfield, Illinois; his sister, Oceola Thurman of
13 Kirkwood, Missouri; one very special nephew, James Finley of
14 St. Louis, Missouri; his grandsons, Carl (Marla) Thomas, Sr.,
15 of Belleville, Illinois and Thomas Porter of St. Louis,
16 Missouri; his granddaughters, Attorney Julia Thomas of
17 Chicago, Illinois, Rachel Porter and Ayanna Porter of St.
18 Louis, Missouri; his great niece, Daria of Alexandria,
19 Virginia; and a host of relatives and friends; therefore, be
20 it
21 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIRST GENERAL
22 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
23 all that knew him, the death of Thodore David Thomas, Sr.;
24 may there be peace in this time of loss; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
26 presented to the family of Theodore David Thomas, Sr., along
27 with our sincere regards.