SR0671 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0671 LRB101 14184 MST 63052 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Richard Carol "R.C." Smith, who passed away on September 2, 2019; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was born to Earl Edward and Sylvia Dickson Smith on January 28, 1934 and lived most of his life as a sixth generation resident of Long Creek Township in Macon County; he graduated from Mt. Zion High School in 1952 and attended Hannibal-LaGrange College; he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and spent two years on Okinawa; he married Wanda Jones on June 13, 1964; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith worked for the Wabash, the Norfolk and Western, and the Norfolk Southern railroads, retiring after 39 years; he then served for over eight years as executive director of the Decatur-Area Labor Management Committee; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was elected as the assistant township supervisor for Long Creek Township in 1961 and then served as a member of the Macon County Board for 28 years; in 1971, he was elected as Mt. Zion Township Supervisor, the first Democrat to be elected township supervisor there in over 20 years; he was the chairman of the Macon County Board for one term from 1985 to 1986 and served five terms as vice chairman; he also served a partial term as Long Creek Township Assessor in 1989; he was elected as Long Creek Township Clerk in 1997 and most recently served in that position; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith served as precinct committeeman for the Democratic Party for over 50 years, starting in 1961; he first started handing out his well-known pocket calendars with his first run for political office in 1961 and did so every year since; he was an active member of the Macon County Democratic Central Committee; he served as chairman of the Long Creek Township Democrats for over 30 years and was an active committeeman for Long Creek #8; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was a member of the Macon County #708 Mental Health Board for many years and the Macon County Mosquito Abatement District Board, where he served as president; he was a member of the board of directors of the Township Officials of Illinois from 2005 to 2012 and served as a director and officer for the Township Clerks of Illinois for several years; he was a trustee for the Long Creek Fire Protection District for several years and a member of the N&W Fellowship Club, where he served as president for five years; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was a member of the Illinois Old Time Fiddlers Association for over 30 years and was honored to serve as master of ceremonies for the Illinois State Fiddle Contest for five years; he was a member of the Jefferson-Jackson Club and TOPS Club 610; he was a member and past president of the Township Officials of Macon County; he was a retiree member of the Wabash Hospital Association Board for eight years and served as alternate member for six years; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was a member of the International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge #300 in Mt. Zion for over 50 years and Ionic Lodge #312, AF & AM for 57 years; he was extremely honored to be chosen as the grand marshal of the Decatur Labor Day Parade in 1997; he was a member of the Charles Parlier Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association DAV No. 17 Decatur; he was an active member and president of the Long Creek senior citizens organization and enjoyed helping set up programs for their lunches; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was a member and local leader of the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees; he served on the Decatur-Macon County Economic Development Corporation, The Decatur Advantage, Inc., and as a member of the board of directors for the Decatur-Macon County senior citizens organization; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was very proud and thankful to be named an official "Kentucky Colonel" of the Commonwealth of Kentucky by Kentucky Governor Wallace G. Wilkinson in 1989; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for over 40 years; he was named deacon emeritus in January of 2004; he served as an adult men's Sunday school teacher for over 45 years; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Randy E. Smith; and

WHEREAS, R.C. Smith is survived by his wife of 55 years, Wanda; his son, Bryan E. Smith; his daughter, Patty (Jerry) Rodgers; his grandchildren, Kayleigh Smith, Kelcie Smith, Brett Rodgers, and Nicole DeBolt; and three great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Richard Carol "R.C." 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 R.C. Smith as an expression of our deepest sympathy.