SR1066 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1066 LRB099 14496 MST 38611 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Henry Dale Smith, Sr. of Springfield, who passed away on September 19, 2015; and

WHEREAS, Henry Smith, Sr. was born in Asheville, North Carolina on August 1, 1928 to James Matthew and Ethel Rickbiel Smith; he began his education at The Citadel in June of 1944, where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry; he then earned a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; he married Betty Mood on June 28, 1950 in Columbia, South Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Henry Smith, Sr. relocated his family to Springfield and founded H. D. Smith Wholesale Drug Co. in January of 1954; he grew the company from 4 associates in the Springfield area to 1,100 nationwide; he served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors and, most recently, served as its Chairman Emeritus; his company is now the fourth-largest pharmaceutical wholesaler in the nation; he also served as Vice-President of Smith Drug in Spartanburg, South Carolina and subsequently as chairman and CEO of J.M. Smith Corporation upon the death of his brother; he served in that capacity for 13 years and then continued his service as a director of the company, retiring from the board as its longest serving member; and

WHEREAS, Henry Smith, Sr. served as an active member of the National Wholesale Druggists Association; he received the Healthcare Distribution Management Association's Nexus Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2003 for his contributions to the industry; he was inducted into The Citadel School of Business Hall of Fame in 2011; and

WHEREAS, Henry Smith, Sr. was active in the Springfield community as a volunteer and philanthropist and an avid University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign supporter; the Betty Mood Smith Rockery rock garden, located in Springfield's Washington Park, was a gift to his wife, celebrating her love of gardening; he was a Rotary Club member for more than 40 years; he also served as a deacon, elder, and trustee at Westminster Presbyterian Church during his 60 years of membership; he was an avid Fighting Illini sports fan and a fan of the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Bears; and

WHEREAS, Henry Smith, Sr. was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Beverly Smith Moss; and his brother, James Matthew Smith, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, Henry Smith, Sr. is survived by his wife, Betty; his 4 sons, Henry Dale (Deborah Klang) Smith, Jr., Rogers Mood (Mary Summers) Smith, J. Christopher (Debra Nickelson) Smith, and Andrew (Joyce) Smith; his grandchildren, Virginia (Dan Upham) Sole-Smith, Chandler (Eric Taxier) Klang Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Caroline Summers Smith, Lacy Smith, Callandria Nickelson Smith, Rogers Reed Summers Smith, and Spencer Nickelson Smith; his great-granddaughter, Violet Upham-Smith; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Henry Dale Smith, Sr., 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 Henry Smith, Sr. as an expression of our deepest sympathy.