Introduced Version
SENATE RESOLUTION No. ___
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOLUTION
A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Thomas Patrick
Higgins.
LANANE
, re ad first time and referred to Committee on
2021 DR 3853/DI AM
 Introduced
First Regular Session 122nd General Assembly (2021)
SENATE RESOLUTION ____
MADAM PRESIDENT:
I offer the following resolution and move its adoption:
1 A SENATE RESOLUTION memorializing Thomas Patrick
2 Higgins.
3 Whereas, Thomas Patrick Higgins of Muncie, Indiana,
4 passed away on September 1, 2020;
5 Whereas, Thomas was born on July 1, 1957, to Mary
6 Frances Higgins and Thomas J. Higgins in New Jersey;
7 Whereas, Thomas had three siblings, Susan, David, and
8 Sean, and he grew up in Princeton and Kendall Park, New
9 Jersey, before moving to St. Petersburg, Florida, with his
10 family;
11 Whereas, Tom graduated from St. Petersburg Catholic
12 High School, attended college at the University of Florida, and,
13 upon completion of his undergraduate degree, Tom went on to
14 attend Ball State University where he earned a Master of
15 Urban Planning degree;
16 Whereas, A Hoosier by choice, Tom worked as a
17 professional planner in Anderson, Westfield, and Marion, and
18 with Gove Associates Engineering in Indianapolis;
2021 DR 3853/DI AM
 2
1 Whereas, As a professional planner, Tom made a
2 permanent impact on Indiana, most notably creating the first
3 Geographic Information System and securing the location of
4 the Hoosier Park/Churchill Downs for the city of Anderson,
5 ensuring quality growth throughout the residential and retail
6 development in Westfield and Marion, ensuring the safety of
7 rural water supplies, taking part in the engineering and park
8 design for Morrow's Meadow Park in Yorktown, and creating
9 several park plans for various Hoosier communities;
10 Whereas, Tom's compassion extended beyond his love for
11 building a better Indiana, as he also spent his time serving
12 people with intellectual disabilities and mental health needs,
13 most recently working at Hillcroft Services in Muncie;
14
15 Whereas, A people-oriented person, Tom loved to tell
16 stories, make jokes, give endearing nicknames and was beloved
17 by all who knew him; and
18 Whereas, Tom deeply loved his family and friends,
19 especially his son Ryan Patrick Gray Higgins, and he will be
20 greatly missed by his son, the mother of his son Judith I. Gray,
21 his brothers David (Rosemary Perfit) Higgins and Sean (Berty)
22 Higgins, his sister-in-law Marilyn (William) Robinson, his
23 brother-in-law Kyle (Diana) Gray, his nieces Keli Higgins,
24 Julia (Troy) Piwowarski, Emily (Jeff) Gartner, Anna Perfit and
25 Hillary Perfit, his nephew Matthew (Rebekah) Kellams, his
26 great-nephew Hayden Kellams, and his dearest friend Timothy
27 Scott: Therefore,
28 Be it resolved by the Senate of the
29 General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
30 SECTION 1. The Indiana Senate memorializes Thomas
31 Higgins.
32 SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed
33 to transmit five copies of this Resolution to Ryan Patrick Gray
2021 DR 3853/DI AM
 3
1 Higgins, David M. Higgins, Sean X. Higgins, Timothy Scott,
2 and Judith I. Gray.
2021 DR 3853/DI AM