MEMORIAL-IRVIN F. SMITH

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0598

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HR0598 - 104th General Assembly

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HR0598
LRB104 17561 LAW 30989 r
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former
4
Illinois State Representative and City of Springfield
5
Alderperson Irvin Frank "Irv" Smith, who passed away on
6
November 24, 2025; and

7

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was born to Frank I. and Emelia Marker
8
Smith in Springfield on September 22, 1929; he completed
9
bachelor's and master's degrees in geology and geography, a
10
master's degree in educational administration, and
11
postgraduate work at Illinois State University and the
12
University of Wisconsin; he married Joan Barbara Reilly at St.
13
Joseph's Church in Springfield in 1952, and they relocated to
14
Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, where he served as a member of the
15
United States Army Signal Corps during the Korean War, for
16
which he later attended an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in
17
2016; and

18

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith touched many lives, first as a teacher
19
and coach at Harvard Park and Jefferson, and then as principal
20
of Staley and Iles Schools; when he arrived at Iles in 1962, he
21
noticed the basketball nets had been removed from the
22
playground to discourage children from playing after hours; he
23
immediately put the nets up and organized an intra-city

HR0598
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LRB104 17561 LAW 30989 r
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basketball competition among the grade schools in Springfield,
2
which Iles won the first year; through his efforts, students
3
learned sportsmanship and pride; over the years, he kept in
4
touch with many of his former students; and

5

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith served as chairman of the Springfield
6
Recreation Commission, became the principal organizer and
7
first president of the Springfield Community Action Agency to
8
combat poverty in Springfield, and was a force behind the
9
beginning of the Head Start Program in Springfield Public
10
Schools; he served as Sangamon County Regional Superintendent
11
of Schools from 1974 to 1980; he further served his community
12
as vice chairman of the Sangamon County Board, as a member of
13
the Illinois House of Representatives from 1980 to 1982, and
14
as an alderperson for the City of Springfield from 1987 to
15
2007; and

16

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was dedicated to the Republican Party
17
and welcomed people from all walks of life into the political
18
organization; he became chairman of the Sangamon County
19
Republican Party in 1983, serving until 2005; he served as
20
chairman of the Illinois County Chairman's Association and as
21
a delegate to the Republican National Convention six times
22
from 1984 to 2004; under his leadership, the first female
23
Mayor of Springfield, first female chairman of the Sangamon
24
County Board, and the first African American female were

HR0598
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LRB104 17561 LAW 30989 r
1
elected to local office; and

2

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith taught thousands of children how to
3
swim and compete during his lifetime, beginning with a summer
4
job as pool manager and coach of Illini CC from 1958 to 1966;
5
he organized and coached the first YWCA Women's Swim Team in
6
1959, culminating with the YWCA National Swim Meet being held
7
at Eisenhower Pool in Springfield in 1971, and he led the YWCA
8
and YMCA swim teams after they merged in 1972, becoming the SPY
9
Swim Team; he organized and coached Colony West Swim Club from
10
1967 to 1970, and his team won the City Championship Meet in
11
1970; he purchased the Olympic Club in 1971 and later
12
purchased the North Suburban Aquatic Club, or Veteran's
13
Memorial Pool, for long course training; he coached the
14
Griffin High School swim team with his friend, Mike Schwartz,
15
and he was named IHSA District Coach of the Year in 1981 and
16
1982; he was also a member of the International Swimming Hall
17
of Fame in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he took his teams to
18
train during Christmas break; he was inducted into the
19
Springfield Sports Hall of Fame as a Friend of Sports in 1999;
20
and

21

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was the longest consistent member of
22
the Springfield YMCA at the time of his passing, beginning in
23
1940; he initially played handball, becoming an 11-time city
24
champion; he held many leadership positions over the years,

HR0598
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LRB104 17561 LAW 30989 r
1
including as a member of the YMCA Board from 1966 to 1982,
2
where he also served as chairman, as an active member of YMCA
3
Membership Roundups, serving as "Big Boss" in 1977, as a
4
member and chairman of the YMCA Board of Trustees, and as a
5
charter member of the Strong Kids Fund; and

6

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith had a long, productive, and fulfilling
7
life; he will be remembered for selflessly giving his time and
8
talent to others and for encouraging everyone to realize their
9
potential; and

10

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith was preceded in death by his wife,
11
Joan Reilly Smith; his parents; his in-laws, Walter R. and
12
Edith Johnson Reilly; his sister, Clara L. Bennett; and his
13
sisters-in-law, Florence Nizzio Smith and Mary Alice Smith;
14
and

15

WHEREAS, Rep. Smith is survived by his son, Irvin F.
16
"Chip" Smith; his daughters, April Elaine Smith and Sharmin
17
Smith Doering; two grandchildren; his son-in-law, Gary
18
Doering; his brother, John Mark Smith; and two nieces and a
19
nephew; therefore, be it

20

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22
we mourn the passing of former Illinois State Representative

HR0598
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LRB104 17561 LAW 30989 r
1
and City of Springfield Alderperson Irvin Frank "Irv" Smith
2
and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and
3
all who knew and loved him; and be it further

4

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5
presented to the family of Rep. Smith as an expression of our
6
deepest sympathy.

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