Governor Linda Lingle and Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. issued the following statements today on the death of former Lt. Governor Tom Gill.
Governor Lingle:
“I join the people of Hawai‘i in mourning the death of former Lt. Governor and U.S. Representative Tom Gill. We were honored that former Lt. Governor Gill was able to participate in the joint session of the Legislature on March 18 to mark the 50th anniversary of President Dwight Eisenhower signing into law the bill that allowed Hawai‘i to be admitted as the 50th state of the United States of America. It gave all of us the opportunity to recognize and thank him for the important role he played in the early days of Hawai‘i politics, serving in the Territorial Legislature, the first State Legislature after statehood, the U.S. Congress, and as Lt. Governor. I extend my deepest sympathies to Lt. Governor Gill’s family and friends.”
Lt. Governor Aiona:
“Tom Gill’s commitment to public service and his passion for politics influenced not only the direction of our state, but our country. From his tenure in the Territorial House of Representatives in the 1950s to his ascent in national politics, Tom Gill was a man who could fiercely advocate his own beliefs and principles. He will be remembered for his significant contributions to civil rights legislation as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1960s, and his steadfast dedication to public service. Vivian and I extend our prayers and deepest condolences to the entire Gill family.”