1999 Assembly Resolution 8
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life and public service of Francis Conway.
Whereas, Francis Conway was born on March 5, 1902, to Michael and Catherine Conway in Lyndon Station, Wisconsin, and died March 3, 1999, in Stanley, Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Mr. Conway graduated from Mauston High School, was assistant cashier at Lyndon State Bank, and was a state bank examiner; and
Whereas, in the 1920s, Mr. Conway was instrumental in creating Thorp Finance Corporation, which started with an investment of $5,000, and eventually grew into a multimillion dollar company and one of the largest consumer loan firms in the Midwest; and
Whereas, as chairman of Thorp Finance Corporation, Mr. Conway kept the company headquarters in Thorp until he retired in 1969, when the firm had 137 loan offices in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri; and
Whereas, Mr. Conway served on the Consumer Credit Review Board, the Banking Review Board, the Marquette University Board, as a delegate to Democratic national conventions from the time of President Franklin Roosevelt through the presidency of Lyndon Johnson; and
Whereas, Mr. Conway was past president of the American Finance Conference and the American Industrial Bankers Association, and was chosen as "Irishman of the Year" by the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin; and
Whereas, Mr. Conway and his wife, Philomene, were active in the local community and donated a library building and a park to Thorp; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, That the members of the Wisconsin assembly commend Mr. Francis Conway's many years of devoted public service, express their sorrow at his death and extend their condolences to his family and friends; and, be it further
Resolved, That the assembly chief clerk shall provide copies of this resolution to Mr. Conway's wife, Philomene; to his children, Mary Elizabeth "Mitzi", Rosanne, Catherine, Jane and Connaught; and to his brother, Bernard.
