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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of our
4friend and former colleague, former State Representative
5Michael K. Smith, who passed away on August 9, 2014; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was born to Dale and Betty Bertetto
7Smith on May 23, 1966 in Canton; he graduated from Canton High
8School and from Bradley University with a Bachelor of Arts in
9Political Science; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith married Donna L. Shaw on February 1,
111991 in Canton; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith began working with the Illinois House
13of Representatives as a legislative assistant; he continued his
14public service as Canton Township Trustee from 1991 to 1994 and
15as a Citizens Advocate for the Illinois Attorney General's
16Office from 1992 to 1995; he was elected State Representative
17in 1994 and diligently served the people of Fulton, Peoria, and
18Tazewell counties and the State of Illinois for 16 years; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was a dedicated and passionate advocate
20for Illinois' schoolchildren as Chairman of the House
21Elementary and Secondary Education Committee; he fought to

 

 

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1increase funding for schools, literacy programs, early
2childhood education, and students with special needs; he served
3as a member of the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board
4from 2011 to 2014; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith fought for middle-class families,
6working to bring jobs to Central Illinois; he secured valuable
7State assistance to support local employers and workers at the
8Keystone Steel and Wire Co. in Bartonville and at Cook Medical
9in Canton; he helped to promote regional growth through the
10establishment of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District,
11the Western Illinois Economic Development Authority, and with
12his support of the bio-fuels industry; he made his district a
13priority by securing millions of dollars in infrastructure
14improvement projects, including upgrades to Veterans Drive in
15Pekin and through efforts to revitalize East Peoria's downtown;
16and
 
17    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith served as a Chairperson and Member of
18the House committees on Appropriations-Elementary and
19Secondary Education, Agriculture and Conservation, Environment
20and Energy, Financial Institutions, Judiciary II-Criminal Law,
21and Personnel and Pensions; he fought on behalf of first
22responders as a founder and Co-Chairman of the Illinois
23Legislative Fire Services Caucus; he served as Chairman and
24Vice-Chairman of the Downstate Democratic Caucus; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith loved his community; he served as a
2Trustee Emeritus at Graham Hospital in Canton, a founding
3member of the 336 Highway Coalition, and as a member of Pekin
4Moose Lodge #916, the Knights of Columbus, and Ducks Unlimited;
5he was a past president of the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce,
6a past vice-president of the Rotary Club of Canton, former
7board member of the American Heart Association's Illinois
8Chapter, and the Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, and a past Parish
9Council President at St. Mary Church in Canton; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith's public service was recognized with
11the Glen Walters Memorial Award, the Associated Fire Fighters
12of Illinois Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Association of
13Fire Protection Districts Award, the Friend of Agriculture, the
14Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association 1999 Legislative
15Award, the Illinois Association of Rural Electric
16Co-Operatives Representative of the Year, the Illinois ABATE
17Outstanding Legislator Award, the Illinois Education
18Association Legislative Service Award, the Illinois Hospital
19Association Award, and the Leo Sharp Award; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Rep. Smith is survived by his wife, Donna; his
21mother, Betty; his sisters, Sandra Schuman and Pat Fowler; and
22several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews;
23therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
3we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of
4former State Representative Michael K. Smith; and be it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Rep. Smith as an expression of our
7deepest sympathies and respect.