Bill Text: IL HR1382 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of former State Representative Michael K. Smith.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2014-12-03 - Resolution Adopted [HR1382 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HR1382-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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

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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.