HR1331 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1331 LRB096 22553 KXB 41856 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Claude Douthit Smith of Antioch, formerly of Ingleside, who passed away on June 4, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Claude Douthit Smith was born in Hartman, Arkansas on August 28, 1925 to Elizabeth and Claude V. Smith; he was a member of the United States Army Air Corp in World War II, where he was a mechanic on fighters and bombers in the Pacific; after returning to the Chicago area, he married Gloria Ann Kaczmaryk on January 22, 1949; and

WHEREAS, He and his wife made their home in Des Plaines until moving to Antioch in 1977; he started Nu-Way Speaker Products in 1956 in the garage, while working and raising his family, a business he later ran with his sons; he made time to coach his sons in Little League and enjoyed bowling with his friends; they spent the winters in Largo, Florida with their group of dear friends from the Chicagoland area; he later started to travel to Hayward, Wisconsin for fishing, relaxing, and the lure of the casino; and

WHEREAS, Claude Smith enjoyed the simple things in life, like the peacefulness of fishing; he liked to fish and enjoyed trips to Canada and Hayward, Wisconsin, as well as fishing on Pistakee Lake; he also liked to go deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico; and

WHEREAS, He loved to play cards, a passion he displayed daily, whether it was playing with family at home or going out with friends to play; he was also an avid hunter, and enjoyed going duck hunting, and was honored to have hunted with Walter Payton; and

WHEREAS, He was a Chicago sports fan and loved to sit and watch the White Sox and Cubs, as well as just spending time with family and friends; he was a member of the Antioch Moose, and the VFW in Largo, Florida; he was also a generous supporter of Ducks Unlimited and an honorary member of the Antioch Rescue Squad; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth; his wife, Gloria; his brothers Michael, Mitchell, and Waldo; and his sister, Wanda; and

WHEREAS, He leaves behind many friends, especially his "partner in crime," Bill Klatt; his fishing buddy, Dick Grutzmacher; his sons, Mike (Ann), Dennis (Brandie), Jim (Sandy), and Pat (Dawne); his grandchildren, Brian, Dave (Carole), Steve, Lisa, Alyson, Jaime, Ashley, and Corey; his great-grandchildren, Hunter and Lauren; and his many nieces, nephews, and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Claude Smith; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Claude Smith as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.