Thomas_M._Tigue

Thomas Tigue

Thomas Tigue

American politician

Thomas M. Tigue (August 24, 1945 – February 1, 2016) was a United States Marine Corps Officer and combat veteran, an American politician, a Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Quick Facts Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 118th district, Preceded by ...

Early life

Thomas Michael Tigue was born in Hughestown, Pennsylvania, to Michael F. Tigue and his wife.[3][4] He graduated from St. John's the Evangelist High School in 1964.[3] He earned a B.A. degree in government from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, in 1968.[4][3][5]

Career

He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the Vietnam War, earning a Silver Star.[6][7] He served 27 years in the Marine Corps Reserve.[8] He has pursued graduate studies at Marywood University.[9] He was a Legislative Fellow at East Stroudsburg University and a member of the Pittston Area School Board.[6][10]

He was first elected to represent the 118th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1980.[7] During his tenure, Tigue served as the Democratic chair of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, where he was instrumental in establishing the Military Family Relief Assistance Program, a program providing financial assistance to eligible Pennsylvania service members and their family members who are financially impacted by military service.[8] He also co-sponsored of legislation giving the Governor the authority to call members of the Pennsylvania National Guard to state active duty in the event of emergencies in other states.[8] He retired prior to the 2006 elections, working to help Michael B. Carroll succeed him.[7]

In December 2006, he became Managing Director of the Delaware River Maritime Enterprise Council.[9] In July 2007, he was inducted into the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Hall of Fame.[8] In 2007, Tigue sought an appointment to the Luzerne County Commission to replace Todd Vonderheid, who decided to step down.[11] A panel of nine judges from the Court of Common Pleas were responsible for the appointment.[11] However, Tigue was defeated by former commissioner Rose Tucker 5–4.[11]

Personal life

Tigue married Dianne Marie Walsh, of Hughestown, on September 14, 1968.[4][12] She died in 2015.[7] Together, they had four children: Thomas, Tracy, Kristin, and Colleen.[7]

Death

Tigue died on February 1, 2016, from Stage IV lung cancer.[13]

U.S. decorations and badges

Silver Star

References

  1. [1]
    "SESSION OF 1981 - 165TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1981-01-06.
  2. [2]
    Per Article II, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the legislative session ended on November 30, 2006
  3. [3]
    Fisher, Jimmy (2016-02-02). "Thomas Tigue remembered as 'one of a kind'". Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, PA. p. 1A. Retrieved 2021-05-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. [4]
    "Engagement of Diane Marie Walsh". Sunday Dispatch. Pittston, PA. 1967-11-26. Retrieved 2021-05-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. [5]
    "Thomas M. Tigue (Democrat)". Official Pennsylvania House of Representatives Profile. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2006-01-10.
  6. [6]
    Kanjorski, Paul (2007-02-09). "Honoring state representative thomas tigue as he retires from the pennsylvania legislature after 26 years of service" (PDF). Congressional Record. United States Congress.
  7. [7]
    Fisher, Jimmy (2016-02-02). "Thomas Tigue remembered as 'one of a kind'". Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, PA. p. 2A. Retrieved 2021-05-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. [8]
    "Retired lawmaker tom tigue named to military and veterans affairs hall of fame" (Press release). Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. 2007-07-31.
  9. [9]
    "Our Team - Thomas M. Tigue, Managing Director". www.drmec.org. Delaware River Maritime Enterprise Council, Inc. 2007.[permanent dead link]
  10. [10]
    "Votesmart.org.-Thomas Tigue". Votesmart.org. 1945-08-24. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  11. [11]
    "Former Commissioner Tucker tapped to finish rest of Vonderheid's term". Citizens Voice. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania: Times-Shamrock Communications Inc. June 19, 2007.
  12. [12]
    "Marine Officer's Bride". Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1968-09-14. Retrieved 2021-05-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. [13]
    Bill Wellock (2016-02-01). "Former lawmaker Tigue dies". Citizensvoice.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
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