Biography

12/04/1945 -

Robert M. “Tommy” Tomlinson, (R6) Bucks (Part) County, 1995-2022

Early Life:

Robert M. “Tommy” Tomlinson, born December 4, 1945, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; son of J. Maurice and Florence Tomlinson; Bensalem High School, 1964; Bordentown Military Institute, 1965; West Chester State College (now West Chester University of Pennsylvania), B.S., 1970; Miami Dade University, B.S., mortuary science, 1971; funeral director, owner, Tomlinson Funeral Home; member, president, Bensalem Township School Board, 1978-1990; past president, Bucks County Intermediate Unit; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1991-1995; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1995-2022; two daughters. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association, member, board of directors, Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), 1995-2022; Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce, Bensalem Republican Committee, Bensalem Rotary, West Chester University Football Hall of Fame, Sturzbecker Foundation Hall of Fame at West Chester University, Bensalem Hall of Fame-Memorial Stadium Committee, member, Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) Oversight Committee; Bensalem Arts and Cultural Advisory Committee; trustee, West Chester University of Pennsylvania; Chairman, Legislative Budget and Finance Committee, member, Pennsylvania Children’s Trust Fund; Lower Bucks Hospital Board of Directors; Saint Mary’s Medical Center Advisory Board and the Advisory Council, Delaware Valley Veterans’ Home. 

Awards:

Dee Brown Lifetime Achievement Award, Lower Bucks Hospital, 2019 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Member, president, Bensalem Township School Board, 1978-1990.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1991-1994. 

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 6th district, Bucks County, 1995-2022; Committee assignments, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure (Chairman), Community and Economic Development, Transportation. 

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

West Chester football team, 1967-1969; team captured the state championship, 1967, played in the Tangerine Bowl, 1967; named, Captain, 1969, captured, state championship 1969. 

Instrumental part, Senate, getting Act 71, passed. This act, known as, Pennsylvania Racehorse Development and Gaming Act, established, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and legalized casinos and racetracks within the state, 2004. Saved Lower Bucks Hospital from closure by legalizing table games in Bucks County casinos. The tax revenue generated allowed the hospital to avoid closure, 2010.

Daughter, Kathleen Tomlinson, elected, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 2020-present.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "T" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

The Pennsylvania Manual, (2021-2022) Mattos, S. (Editor). (Volume 125). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, page 3-39; Biographies of Members of the Senate, page 3-24.