HR0777 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0777 LRB096 16073 GRL 31321 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. on the occasion of his 60th birthday in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Horace Earl Smith II was born in 1949 in the Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago; he was raised alongside his 2 sisters and 3 brothers by his parents, Shirley and Albert Smith; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Horace Smith graduated as an honor student from Lindblom High School; he earned his bachelor's degree from Chicago State University in 1971 and his M.D. from the University of Illinois Medical Center in 1975; he then completed his pediatric residency at the University of Illinois Hospital in 1978 and his clinical fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the Children's Memorial Hospital/Northwestern University in 1980; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Horace Smith served as Director of the Comprehensive Sickle Cell/Thalassemia Program at Children's Memorial Hospital for over 20 years; he is also an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and is recognized world-wide as an outstanding pediatrician in his field; and

WHEREAS, On March 28, 1980, Bishop Horace Smith was named pastor of Apostolic Faith Church following the death of the former pastor, Bishop John S. Holy; under Bishop Smith's leadership, the church's congregation has grown from 200 members to 7,000 members; and

WHEREAS, Under Bishop Horace Smith's guidance, the Apostolic Faith Church provides assistance by way of food and supplies to over 4,000 homeless families around the Chicago area every year; the church also has a scholarship program that grants more than $100,000 each year, visitations to nursing homes, outreach to correctional facilities, and a JobSource program which, to date, has assisted more than 1,000 individuals in obtaining employment; the church also broadcasts a Faithworks Ministry Telecast locally on WJYS-TV and nationally on the Word Network; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2004, Bishop Horace Smith was selected to serve as Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc., an organization with over 1.5 million members worldwide; he also serves on the boards of the historic Wabash YMCA, the Family Institute at Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center-Community Health Advisory Board; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Horace Smith has taken part in numerous humanitarian endeavors throughout the world; he serves as a board member of World Vision USA; he and his wife travel extensively to Africa to help those who have been devastated by the HIV/AIDS pandemic; under the leadership of Bishop and Sister Smith, the Apostolic Faith Church has provided resources for the drilling of wells for fresh water, food, clothing, education, medical assistance, and other goods and services; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Horace Smith has been honored by numerous organizations, including the Children's Miracle Network; he has also been featured in various local and national newspapers, magazines, and television programs; and

WHEREAS, Bishop Horace Smith has been happily married to Susan Davenport Smith since 1976; together, they have 3 beautiful daughters, Lauren Elrod, Rachel Horton, and Emily Green, and 3 sons-in-law, Brian Elrod, Courtney Horton, and Patrick Green; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Bishop Horace E. Smith, M.D. on the occasion of his 60th birthday and wish him many happy and healthy years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Bishop Horace Smith as a symbol of our esteem and respect.