SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 14 Offered February 15, 2006 Commending Thomas Carlyle Gilman. ---------- Patrons-- Chichester, Bell, Blevins, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Herring, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, Miller, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple and Williams ----------

WHEREAS, Thomas Carlyle Gilman, Chief Committee Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms, retired on June 1, 2005, after 20 years of exemplary service to the Senate of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Gilman was born in Richmond, spent his childhood in the City of Richmond and Henrico County, and graduated from Douglas S. Freeman High School; and

WHEREAS, in 1969, Tommy Gilman earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the Richmond College of the University of Richmond; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Gilman excelled on the baseball field at the University of Richmond and after graduating, worked as an assistant baseball coach under the tutelage of the legendary Mac Pitt; and

WHEREAS, after Mac Pitt's retirement, Tommy Gilman was named head baseball coach and through the years acquired the nickname “Coach”; and

WHEREAS, while serving as coach, Tommy Gilman used his love and knowledge of the sport to help young men sharpen their baseball skills, and he also mentored several players who went on to play professional baseball; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Gilman, through his enthusiasm and encouragement, inspired his players to strive to become better young men and contributors to the world; and

WHEREAS, following his tenure as head baseball coach at the University of Richmond, Tommy Gilman was employed by the Senate of Virginia as a committee clerk in 1985; and

WHEREAS, Tommy Gilman was appointed Chief Committee Clerk of the Senate during the 1986 Special Session and was elected Sergeant-at-Arms on January 13, 1988; and

WHEREAS, during his 20 years of service as Chief Committee Clerk, Tommy Gilman used his experience and wit to mentor committee clerks and instill in them the importance of the committee process and the democratic system of compromise and consensus-building; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, That Thomas Carlyle Gilman hereby be commended for his many years of outstanding service and loyalty to the Senate of Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Thomas Carlyle Gilman as an expression of the Senate’s sincere gratitude for his dedication to the citizens of the Commonwealth.