1.1A Senate resolution
1.2honoring the life and work of Lynne Thomas.
1.3WHEREAS, Lynne M. Thomas was born in Lima, Ohio, and educated at the University of
1.4North Dakota, Grand Forks. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, the national junior college honor
1.5society, she graduated in 1978 with a B.S. in public administration; and
1.6WHEREAS, she worked for three years as a reporter for the Bismarck Tribune and
1.7interned with the North Dakota legislature; and
1.8WHEREAS, she joined the staff of the Minnesota Senate on January 5, 1987, and served
1.9the Senate's Office of Counsel, Research and Fiscal Analysis as a legislative assistant; and
1.10WHEREAS, as the office's receptionist for 28 years, she worked hard at knowing hundreds
1.11of people by name, unfailingly greeting them with a smile and helpful attention; and
1.12WHEREAS, Lynne relayed visitors and phone calls from members, lobbyists, and others
1.13to the staff in her office, a task that called for an excellent understanding of each staff member's
1.14roles and duties and of the legislative schedule, and that required a calm and diplomatic demeanor
1.15during the hectic days of the legislative session; and
1.16WHEREAS, she cheerfully took on the multitude of individual tasks that keep an office
1.17functioning - delivering mail, keeping printers stocked and running, booking meeting space -
1.18seeing herself as a concierge of sorts, and taking pride in that responsibility; and
1.19WHEREAS, she kept track of staff members who tend to roam far and wide during the
1.20session, helping others find them and often reminding staff members on their way out of the office
1.21which hearing room they needed to be in; and
1.22WHEREAS, Lynne excelled at making new staff members feel welcome during their first
1.23weeks and months on the job; and
1.24WHEREAS, she always made sure to have a full candy dish at her desk to share and invite
1.25warm conversation to brighten everyone's day; and
1.26WHEREAS, she was a jewelry enthusiast, an avid reader, and a fervent and knowledgeable
1.27movie fan; and
1.28WHEREAS, she loved her work and was very loyal to the office and the Senate; and
1.29WHEREAS, Lynne Thomas passed away unexpectedly on the morning of April 30,
1.302015; and
1.31NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the State of Minnesota that
1.32it honors the memory of Lynne Thomas and expresses its thanks for her years of service to the
1.33Senate. It extends its condolences to the members of her family, to the staff of the Office of Senate
1.34Counsel, Research and Fiscal Analysis, and to all who knew her.
1.35BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is directed to prepare
1.36an enrolled copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the Secretary's signature and that of
2.1the Chair of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and transmit it to the family of
2.2Lynne Thomas.

2.3 2.4 2.5

JoAnne M. Zoff Secretary of the Senate

Thomas M. Bakk Chair, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration

2.6 2.7

David W. Hann State Senator, District 48

Sandra L. Pappas State Senator, District 65

2.8 2.9

Richard Cohen State Senator, District 64