'Jim Thome Highway' to Honor Chicago White Sox Slugger

Springfield, IL — Illinois lawmakers have been unable to reach an agreement on a state budget for more than a year, resulting in billions of dollars in unpaid bills (more than $7 billion) and long delays in the bills the state does pay. Essential social services are hurting in a big way, too.

But Illinois lawmakers agreed unanimously on one matter this week.

Chicago White Sox star and native Illinoisan Jim Thome should have a highway named for him.

Jim Thome Highway passed on a 108-0 Illinois House vote, finding favor with Republicans, Democrats, North Siders, South Siders, downstaters and Sox haters alike.

And why not? The Pride of Peoria is officially one of the friendliest Major League ballplayers, according to a Sports Illustrated poll.

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If you want to drive Jim Thome Highway, you'll need to get your wheels down to Peoria and take U.S. Route 24 from Griswold Street to South Adams Street in Bartonville.

This is where Thome grew up, the youngest of five children in a blue-collar family of athletes. His grandmother played softball for the local Caterpillar plant. In fact, she was something of a ringer.

The measure passed Wednesday, and the resolution notes:

"Jim Thome is known for his positive attitude and outgoing personality as well as his philanthropic activities, which have earned him 2 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Awards and the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award; he was also known for his willingness to sign autographs for fans ..."

The honor was sponsored by Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth, D-Peoria, and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Unes, R-East Peoria.

A similar bill faltered last year.

Thome, 45, married to the former Andrea Pacione, a Cleveland native, is the father of two children. He holds a special assistant to the general manager job with the White Sox. He'll be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2018.

Remembered as a great teammate and a clutch power-hitter, state lawmakers maybe ought to do more than just name a highway for the man. They could take a cue from Thome's exemplary attitude and come together to agree on a solid state budget.

Photo: Keith Allison