Thomas A. Oakley

1932 - 2022

Thomas A. Oakley, 89, of Quincy, died Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in his home.

He leaves a legacy of commitment to family, business and community.

Born on June 24, 1932, in Quincy to Thomas C. and Mary Susan Sullivan Oakley, he attended Quincy public schools, graduating from Quincy High School in 1950. He went on to graduate from Duke University in 1954 with a bachelor's degree in economics. While at Duke he met and was married to Anne McDonald in Raleigh, North Carolina on December 22, 1954. She died in 2015.

Tom and Anne had three children. Thomas C. Oakley II, who died in 1974 and Ralph M. Oakley and Mary Oakley Winters, both of whom reside in Quincy.

Following graduation he served in the Air Force Strategic Air Command as a pilot. After completing his service he returned to Quincy in 1958 to re-enter the family business of Quincy Newspapers, Inc., as a fourth generation family member.

Tom worked for Quincy Newspapers, Inc. (later Quincy Media, Inc.). After beginning in the 1950s, he became President in 1969 following the death of his father who had run the company. As President/CEO from 1969-2008 Oakley led the company's growth from owning and operating the Quincy Herald-Whig and WGEM AM-FM-TV to add television stations in several markets and one additional newspaper.

Stepping down as President/CEO in 2008 he remained active in the company as Publisher of the Herald-Whig until 2017 and as a member of its board of directors of Quincy Media until it sold its television and radio stations to Gray Media and its newspapers to Phillips Media in 2021.

While the company grew and prospered under his leadership Oakley was regarded as a tireless advocate for economic development, championing efforts to improve the infrastructure of the region. He used both personal leadership as well as the company's media outlets to dramatically enhance the quality of life for the regions it served through support of many community projects and efforts.

Oakley served on an untold number of committees throughout his life. Notably, he helped found the Joint Industrial Development Commission (JIDC) which was the predecessor organization to the Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF). The formation of JIDC became the first unified effort to build the economic development of the entire Tri-State Region. Recently he donated $1 million dollars to fund the Tri-State Development Summit at Culver Stockton College to foster further, ongoing regional development work.

He spent over 60 years working on highway development for the Tri-States as the region was bypassed in the formation of the country's interstate system in 1956. Through his involvement and leadership the region ultimately has become the crossroads of three major highways linking the tri-state region to the rest of the country. Because of his work, a portion of the Chicago to Kansas City Expressway was named the Thomas A. Oakley Highway in 2009.

Tom's focus also included many community organizations through his involvement, leadership and support, helping thousands of people. He was a strong advocate for the United Way and construction of a new YMCA building in 1970. He was also an active supporter of the Community Foundation of Western Illinois and Northeast Missouri.

He was recognized with many awards for his community service including induction into the Quincy Area Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame and being the first recipient of the annual Boy Scout community service award in addition to having awards named for him for service to the region.

He was awarded an honorary degree in 1975 from Quincy University where he served on the Board of Trustees.

Tom served his industry in many ways including being a member of the National Association of Broadcasters' Board of Directors, Chairman of the Television Bureau of Advertising and on a newspaper industry committee dealing with cross ownership of television stations and newspapers. He was recognized by many organizations for his involvement and service, including lifetime awards from the Midwest Chapter of the National Television Arts and Sciences, the Broadcasters Foundation of America, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Illinois Broadcasters Association and the Illinois Press Association.

While involved in significant business and community projects, Tom greatly enjoyed his family and friends. He spent many hours and days with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at family events in Quincy, Florida, and the upper peninsula of Michigan. He was active as a golfer and served for over 40 years on the USGA Greens Section Committee and had the chance to play courses all over the world including 20 years of trips to Scotland with his wife. He was also a frequent hunter and boater.

He is survived by his son, Ralph and daughter, Mary; grandchildren Tom (Lesley) Van Ness of Morton Il, Ben (Amanda) Van Ness of Quincy, Allison (Dustin) Oakley Hall of Quincy, Jonathan (Mark Peacock) Van Ness of Austin, TX , Sullivan Oakley (Joseph Burg) of Oakland, CA. and step grandchild Jennifer Reekie (Don Krutmeier) of Quincy.

Great grandchildren Olivia Van Ness of Quincy, Liam Hall of Quincy, Sterling Van Ness and Cameron Van Ness of Morton, Anne Hall, Emma Van Ness, and Oliver Hall, all of Quincy. Step great grandchildren Isla, Campbell, Cora and Ailsa Reekie, Brynn and Carter Krutmeier, all of Quincy.

Also, sisters-in-law Mary Oakley and Signe Oakley of Quincy and Mabel McDonald of Raleigh and brother-in-law Ralph McDonald (Meg McLaurin) of Raleigh as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son, son-in-law Stephen Winters and daughter-in-law Lisa Smith Oakley and two brothers, Peter A. and David R. Oakley

There is no visitation; however, friends and family are invited to attend the services to celebrate the life of Thomas A. Oakley.

Services: 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at St. John's Anglican Parish (701 Hampshire, Quincy) with Rev. Patrick Smith officiating.

To attend the service for Thomas A. Oakley remotely, please join us on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 at 10:00 am Central Time using the following link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/3075227879

Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Quincy, Illinois with full military honors conducted by American Legion Post 37 and the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be his nieces and nephews David R. Oakley, Jr, Michael A. Oakley, Timothy K. Oakley, Susan Oakley Gauthier, Cathy Oakley Bunce, Peter A. Oakley II and Harold B. Oakley.

Memorials may be made to the Oakley Family scholarship at Quincy University, United Way of Adams County, Quincy Family YMCA, or Culver Stockton College for the Tri-State Development Summit. Memorial donations may be made online at https://memorials.hansenspear.com/

Hansen-Spear Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.