SR1414 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1414 LRB098 22278 MST 61190 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of former Illinois State Representative Michael K. Smith, who passed away on August 9, 2014; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Smith was born in Canton on May 23, 1966 to Dale and Betty Bertetto Smith; he graduated from Canton High School; In 1988, he graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science; on February 9, 1991, he married Donna L. Shaw in Canton; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Smith worked as a legislative assistant for the Illinois House of Representatives from 1986 to 1992, where he was assigned to the staff of the Judiciary II Criminal Law Committee; from 1992 to 1995, he was a Citizens Advocate in the Peoria Regional Office of the Illinois Attorney General's Office; he was elected State Representative in 1995 and served 8 terms representing the 91st District, including parts of Fulton, Peoria, and Tazewell counties; he was appointed Chairman of the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, the Appropriation Committee for Elementary and Secondary Education Committee, and the Agriculture and Conservation Committee; he served as a member of the Environment and Energy Committee, the Financial Institutions Committee, the Judiciary II Criminal Law Committee, and the Personnel and Pensions Committee; he served as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Downstate Democratic Caucus and was the Founder and Co-Chairman of the Illinois Legislative Fire Services Caucus; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Smith served the Graham Hospital in Canton as a trustee emeritus and the 336 Highway Coalition as a founding member; he was past president of the Canton Area Chamber of Commerce, a former board member of the American Heart Association Illinois Affiliate, past president of the American Heart Association Fulton County Division, a former board member of the Fulton-Mason Crisis Service, and past Parish Council President at St. Mary's Catholic Church; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Smith received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Glen Walters Memorial Award, the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Legislator of the Year, the Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts Friend of Agriculture, the Illinois Fertilizer and Chemical Association 1999 Legislative Award, the Illinois Association of Rural Electric Co-ops Representative of the Year, the Illinois ABATE Outstanding Legislator Award, the Illinois Education Association Legislative Service Award, the Illinois Hospital Association Friend of Agriculture, and the Illinois Farm Bureau Leo Sharp Award; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Smith was preceded in death by his father, Dale; and

WHEREAS, Representative Michael Smith is survived by his wife, Donna; his mother, Betty; his sisters, Sandra Schuman and Pat Fowler; his nieces and nephews, Greg Schuman, Amy Tiff, Angela (Tim) Burke, Natalie Fowler, Amanda Waddell, Nick (Erika) Shaw, Joel (Kerrie) Shaw, and Derek Shaw; and several great-nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Representative Michael K. Smith, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Representative Michael Smith as an expression of our deepest sympathy.