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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORABLE JAMES R. THOMPSON, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS, IN MEMORIAM
WHEREAS, Almighty God in His infinite wisdom has called James R. Thompson from our midst, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was the loving and adored husband to Jayne Carr, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was the loving father to Samantha (Anastasios), and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was the dear grandfather to Persephone, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Agnes Josephine (Swanson) and James Robert Thompson, a physician, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson graduated from North Park Academy (now North Park University), studied at the University of Illinois at Chicago Navy Pier campus, and at Washington University in St. Louis. He received his J.D. from Northwestern University in 1959, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson worked as an attorney in the Cook County State's Attorney's office, taught at Northwestern University's law school and was appointed by President Nixon to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was elected to a two -year term as Governor of Illinois in 1976. Thompson’s vote tally of 3,000,395 remains the largest number of votes ever cast for a candidate in an election for Governor of Illinois, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was re-elected to a full four-year term as Governor of Illinois in 1978 with 60 percent of the vote, defeating State Comptroller Michael Bakalis and in 1982 Thompson was re-elected over former U.S. Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was re-elected to his final term as Governor of Illinois in 1986, and
WHEREAS, James R. Thompson was known as “Big Jim” due to his physically imposing height and was known to be an excellent campaigner with a keen understanding of the electorate, and
WHEREAS, as Governor, James R. Thompson, worked to improve the state’s infrastructure through the Build Illinois project that aimed to expand highways, repair sewer lines, clean up toxic sites and fund college and university building projects, and
WHEREAS, as Governor, James R. Thompson created the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency and helped save the Dana-Thomas House in Springfield, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and
WHEREAS, as Governor, James R. Thompson worked with state lawmakers in 1988 to secure a legislative agreement that kept the White Sox, the city’s favorite baseball team, in Chicago, and
WHEREAS, the State of Illinois Center in Chicago was renamed the James R. Thompson Center to honor James R. Thompson’s many accomplishments, and
WHEREAS, in 2002, James R Thompson was appointed to serve on the 9/11 Commission, and
WHEREAS, all who knew him will attest that James R. Thompson was a kind and compassionate man, virtuous of character and gentle in spirit, admired and respected by his many friends and neighbors, and dearly loved by his family, now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board does hereby offer its deepest condolences and most heartfelt sympathy to the family and many friends of James R. Thompson, and joins them in sorrow at this time of loss, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body, and a suitable copy of same be tendered to the family of James R. Thompson that his memory may be so honored and ever cherished.
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