Representative Rosemary R. Thomson View All Years

ROSEMARY THOMSON

ROSEMARY THOMSON was born December 22, 1935 in Wyoming, Illinois, the daughter of Ray A. and Emilie Kroepel Clinebell. She graduated from Elmwood High School in Elmwood, Illinois and from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Rosemary married Jim Thomson in 1957. She taught school in Peoria and later served as student assistance coordinator for the Linn-Mar school system in Marion. Rosemary also worked in community development for Iowa State University Extension and had written for Christian publications.

Rosemary was dedicated to public service and enjoyed working in grass roots Republican politics. Her political career began when she was an “I Like Ike” girl in President Eisenhower’s 1956 campaign. Throughout her life she continued to serve as a leader in the Republican Party and won election to many local, state and national positions. Her public service career included work in the U.S. Department of Education and an appointment to the National Commission on Drug-Free Schools. She was a member of the Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois and attended New Covenant Bible Church in Cedar Rapids.

Rosemary was proud of using her experience as a state-certified substance abuse prevention specialist to play a leading role as the General Assembly enacted tough new legislation on illicit drug trafficking, drunken driving and limiting youth access to tobacco. She was named the Legislator of the Year in 1999 by the Iowa Council of the American Cancer Society and also received statewide recognition as the 1996 recipient of the Iowa Traffic Safety Award.

A Republican, Mrs. Thomson was a member of the Seventy-sixth, Seventy- seventh and Seventy-eighth General Assemblies. (1995-2001)

Rosemary Thomson died on January 19, 2009 at the age of 73.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By The House Of Representatives Of The Eighty-Third General Assembly Of Iowa, That in the passing of the Honorable Rosemary Thomson, the State has lost an honored citizen and a faithful and useful public servant, and the House by this Resolution would express its appreciation of her service.

Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be spread upon the Journal of the House, and that the Chief Clerk be directed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

NICK WAGNER

KRAIG PAULSEN

RENEE SCHULTE

Committee