SR1093 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1093 LRB102 28196 LAW 40004 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Colonel James Andrew Smith Jr., Illinois Army National Guard (Ret.) of Chatham, who passed away on May 11, 2022; and

WHEREAS, James Smith was born to James Andrew Smith Sr. and Alex Lim Clark in Cleveland, Mississippi on December 28, 1959; he married Nilsa Bruno in St. Louis, Missouri on September 22, 1984; and

WHEREAS, James Smith began his military career as an enlisted soldier in 1977, commissioning through the Illinois Army National Guard Officer Candidate School in 1982; he spent his early years as a young officer in the 3rd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment based in East St. Louis; he managed the East St. Louis Armory and became respected as a member of the Illinois Army National Guard; and

WHEREAS, James Smith served in various staff and leadership positions before taking command of the Company C, 3rd Battalion, 130th Infantry based in Salem; after company command, he served as assistant S-3 of the 33rd Infantry Brigade before serving as commander of the brigade's headquarters company and finally as commander of brigade S-2; he served as the executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 131st Infantry Regiment based in Joliet in 1995; he served as an operations and training officer at the Illinois Army National Guard headquarters in Springfield in 1998; he was appointed commander of the 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment in Chicago in 1999; after two years in command, he was transferred to the 33rd Area Support Group (ASG), where he helped coordinate the unit's response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, James Smith was appointed as the deputy chief of staff for Personnel (G-1) in 2003, where he played an integral role in preparing the Illinois Army National Guard units for deployment to Iraq and then Afghanistan before being appointed as the chief of staff of the Illinois Army National Guard, a position from which he retired in 2008; he was then appointed as the chief of staff of the Illinois Department of Military Affairs that same year, where his successes continued; and

WHEREAS, James Smith was an advocate and served as executive director for the Lincoln's Challenge Academy; he was also actively involved with the Illinois Military Family Relief Fund, the Illinois State Military Museum, the National Guard Association of Illinois, and, most of all, the soldiers and airmen of the Illinois National Guard and their families; and

WHEREAS, James Smith was proud of being an infantry officer, a devout Catholic, and an unwavering St. Louis Cardinals fan; in his spare time, he enjoyed reading, camping, and traveling; and

WHEREAS, James Smith was preceded in death by his father; and

WHEREAS, James Smith is survived by his wife, Nilsa Smith; his son, Samuel Smith; his mother, Alex Lim Clark; his siblings, Reginald (Yvonne) Smith, Reba Smith, Ericka Smith, Denise Hampton, and Rebecca (Stevie) Smith-Bowen; and his beloved dog, Timber; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Colonel James Andrew Smith Jr., Illinois Army National Guard (Ret.) 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 James Smith as an expression of our deepest sympathy.