Randolph R. Tomlinson Sr.

Tomlinson, Randolph R.
Randolph R. Tomlinson, Sr., age 91 of Evanston and formerly of Panama died Friday, June 26, 2009 in Saint Francis Hospital, Evanston, IL. Mr. Tomlinson was born August 28, 1917 in the Republic of Panama to Randolph and Myrtle Burnett Tomlinson. Educated in Panama schools, Randolph graduated in 1940 from the National Institute, a combination high school and two liberal arts college, at the time this was the highest institution of learning in Panama, he graduated with a degree in book-keeping. In 1941, Randolph started his first job in 1941 as a timekeeper and payroll clerk with the US Navy on the Canal Zone. In 1945 Randolph left his position with the US Navy to take a position with the US Army in the Canal Zone. He worked in the Adjutant General's office, Army Regulations Department, where he was responsible for posting changes in Army Regulations and keeping them up to date for the Commanding General and his staff. Randolph returned to school in 1947 soon after the University of Panama was built entering the School of Journalism. In 1949 Randolph left his Army job to work on the "The Nation," a daily newspaper in Panama City. He worked a special reporter for the Canal Zone which was mostly populated by Americans working for the US Government. Duties at the "The Nation" also included that of society editor, chief headline writer, and editor of the Editorial page. In 1953 Randolph along with another newspaperman, founded The Panama Review, this publication was very similar in style and format as that of TIME magazine, the Review was published in both English and Spanish. Randolph left Panama in 1957 to join his mother here in the United States; he secured a job in and office supply company in Evanston where his mother was residing. In 1960, Randolph entered School of Journalism at Northwestern University, graduating in 1965. Following graduation, Randolph worked as a proof reader for a publishing company in Chicago, although he had a great amount of job security at the publishing firm it was not newspaper work, resigning from the firm in 1968 Randolph founded the North Shore Examiner a week before Thanksgiving that same year. Randolph had a part-time staff including some of his grandchildren working at the paper. Randolph normally started his work day by stopping in at City Hall, the Police Station, and calling on advertising customers. A true newspaper man, Randolph was able to perform all aspects of operating a newspaper. From the mid 1970's until 1979 the paper had a circulation of 20,000 customers, with approximately 2000 customers that lived out of state. The paper was published once a month. Randolph is survived by his wife Algean Tomlinson; his first wife, and mother to his children Eulalie Tomlinson; children, Randolph Robert Tomlinson, Jr., William (Doris), Marta Humphreys and Edward; grandchildren, Lillian, Renee, Shannon, Amorette, William, Kent, Elizabeth and Erin; great-grandchildren Mary, Keth, Marquis, Eric, Richard, David, Tristan, Lexandria and Dane; great-great-grandfather of Richard, Jr., Kayla, David VI, Nevaeh, Nia and Jeremy; cousin of Muriel Davis and Veronica Bermudez, and also survived by a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral Mass was held Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at Saint Athanasius Church, Evanston. Interment in All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines.