HR0877 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0877 LRB095 15151 GRL 41116 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Chicago resident James "Jamie" Smith III, who was diagnosed with autism at age four, returned home with four medals from the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Shanghai, China on October 2-11, 2007; and

WHEREAS, The Special Olympics World Summer Games bring together nearly 7,500 athletes from 165 countries to showcase their athletic abilities; the athletes compete in divisions according to ability level and are representative of the athletes in their state or country; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Special Olympics is for people with special needs to develop physical fitness, to demonstrate courage, and to experience joy through training and competition in Olympic-type sports; the Special Olympics began in Illinois on July 20, 1968, when the first Special Olympics were held at Soldier Field in Chicago; today, more than 2.25 million athletes worldwide, ages eight and older, train and compete for the Special Olympics Games, including 20,000 athletes in Illinois alone; and

WHEREAS, A sixteen year veteran of the Special Olympics, Jamie Smith competed in powerlifting, athletics, softball, snowshoeing, basketball, and aquatics through Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Jamie Smith began attending the Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago Therapeutic Day School shortly after he was diagnosed with autism as a young child; he earned perfect attendance awards in high school from 2000 to 2004 while working part-time at a grocery store, demonstrating his innate qualities of fortitude and industriousness even at his early age; in 2004, he was named Athlete of the Year at his school; and

WHEREAS, After Jamie Smith graduated from the Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago Therapeutic Day School in 2004, he decided to give back what he had received, returning to the school to mentor other needy children while training to qualify for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games; and

WHEREAS, Jamie Smith was one of eleven athletes chosen from Illinois and the only Chicago resident named to compete in the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games as part of the 399-member Team USA, a feat only possible through his intense training regimen, his natural ability, and his will to succeed; and

WHEREAS, A powerlifter capable of lifting 295 pounds, 110 pounds over his own body weight, Jamie Smith earned four medals at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games, with bronze medal victories in the Squat-Lift and Dead-Lift events and silver medal victories in the Bench Press event and for All-Around Performance; and

WHEREAS, In a tragic turn of events, Jamie Smith's weightlifting coach of the past seven years, Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago staff member Rob DeSanto, passed away the night before Jamie's scheduled departure for China; Mr. DeSanto would have been proud to see the intense dedication exhibited by Jamie Smith, as well as his extraordinary success in the 2007 Games; and

WHEREAS, Jamie Smith's exceptional performance at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games is worthy of the greatest respect and is indicative of the great things that hard work and determination can accomplish in our society; he serves as an inspiration to the participants in the Special Olympics and the citizens of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor James "Jamie" Smith III on the occasion of his outstanding performance at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer games held in Shanghai, China and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to James "Jamie" Smith III as a symbol of our esteem and respect.