HR1382 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1382 LRB098 23483 MST 62652 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of our friend and former colleague, former State Representative Michael K. Smith, who passed away on August 9, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was born to Dale and Betty Bertetto Smith on May 23, 1966 in Canton; he graduated from Canton High School and from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith married Donna L. Shaw on February 1, 1991 in Canton; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith began working with the Illinois House of Representatives as a legislative assistant; he continued his public service as Canton Township Trustee from 1991 to 1994 and as a Citizens Advocate for the Illinois Attorney General's Office from 1992 to 1995; he was elected State Representative in 1994 and diligently served the people of Fulton, Peoria, and Tazewell counties and the State of Illinois for 16 years; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was a dedicated and passionate advocate for Illinois' schoolchildren as Chairman of the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee; he fought to increase funding for schools, literacy programs, early childhood education, and students with special needs; he served as a member of the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board from 2011 to 2014; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith fought for middle-class families, working to bring jobs to Central Illinois; he secured valuable State assistance to support local employers and workers at the Keystone Steel and Wire Co. in Bartonville and at Cook Medical in Canton; he helped to promote regional growth through the establishment of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District, the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority, and with his support of the bio-fuels industry; he made his district a priority by securing millions of dollars in infrastructure improvement projects, including upgrades to Veterans Drive in Pekin and through efforts to revitalize East Peoria's downtown; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith served as a Chairperson and Member of the House committees on Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary Education, Agriculture and Conservation, Environment and Energy, Financial Institutions, Judiciary II-Criminal Law, and Personnel and Pensions; he fought on behalf of first responders as a founder and Co-Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Fire Services Caucus; he served as Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Downstate Democratic Caucus; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith loved his community; he served as a Trustee Emeritus at Graham Hospital in Canton, a founding member of the 336 Highway Coalition, and as a member of Pekin Moose Lodge #916, the Knights of Columbus, and Ducks Unlimited; he was a past president of the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, a past vice-president of the Rotary Club of Canton, former board member of the American Heart Association's Illinois Chapter, and the Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, and a past Parish Council President at St. Mary Church in Canton; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith's public service was recognized with the Glen Walters Memorial Award, the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts Award, the Friend of Agriculture, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association 1999 Legislative Award, the Illinois Association of Rural Electric Co-Operatives Representative of the Year, the Illinois ABATE Outstanding Legislator Award, the Illinois Education Association Legislative Service Award, the Illinois Hospital Association Award, and the Leo Sharp Award; and

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith is survived by his wife, Donna; his mother, Betty; his sisters, Sandra Schuman and Pat Fowler; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of former State Representative Michael K. Smith; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Rep. Smith as an expression of our deepest sympathies and respect.