Political Quotes

“Madam President, Tom Oakley was a man with a mission. His mission was to put Quincy and Western Illinois on the map. The only sure way to do that was to personally redraw the maps. So he did. In the late 1950s, there was not a four-lane highway anywhere within 100 miles of Quincy, IL. Critics called the region: ``Forgottonia.'' Thomas Oakley had more than a good memory. He had a vision, and Western Illinois was not about to be forgotten. Any political candidate who paid a visit to Tom's Herald-Whig editorial board knew what to expect. No complimentary coffee or cool glass of water until Tom asked the question. With a dead serious look and his deep bass voice, he skipped the pleasantries. ``What's your position on completing the four-lane Central Illinois Expressway all the way to Quincy?'' ``I am for it,'' I quickly answered as a congressional candidate in 1982. Tom smiled and asked how I liked my coffee. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. For decades, Quincy and the Tri-States had no greater advocate than Tom. His indefatigable voice for the region rightfully earned him the honor of having a 60-mile stretch of the Chicago to Kansas Expressway highway named after him. From Quincy to Macomb, it is the Thomas A. Oakley Highway now. He also helped grow his family's media company Quincy Media, Inc., into the 13th largest media company in the country. Last month, Tom passed away, and today, we honor the memory and legacy of my friend.…”