Thomas Tigue

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.

Thomas M. "Tom" Tigue
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 118th district
In office
January 6, 1981[1] – November 30, 2006[2]
Preceded byRaphael Musto
Succeeded byMichael Carroll
Personal details
Born
Thomas Michael Tigue

(1945-08-24)August 24, 1945
Hughestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 1, 2016(2016-02-01) (aged 70)
Hughestown, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Dianne Marie Walsh
​
​
(m. 1968; died 2015)​
Children4
Alma materKing's College (B.A.)
AwardsSilver Star
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/serviceU.S. Marine Corps
Years of service1968–1971
Rank Colonel
Battles/warsVietnam War

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. "SESSION OF 1981 - 165TH OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - No. 1" (PDF). Legislative Journal. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 1981-01-06.
  2. Per Article II, Section 2 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, the legislative session ended on November 30, 2006
  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. "Engagement of Diane Marie Walsh". Sunday Dispatch. Pittston, PA. 1967-11-26. Retrieved 2021-05-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Thomas M. Tigue (Democrat)". Official Pennsylvania House of Representatives Profile. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2006-01-10.
  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. 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. "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. "Our Team - Thomas M. Tigue, Managing Director". www.drmec.org. Delaware River Maritime Enterprise Council, Inc. 2007.
  10. "Votesmart.org.-Thomas Tigue". Votesmart.org. 1945-08-24. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  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. "Marine Officer's Bride". Times Leader. Wilkes-Barre, PA. 1968-09-14. Retrieved 2021-05-09 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. Bill Wellock (2016-02-01). "Former lawmaker Tigue dies". Citizensvoice.com. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
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