Bill Text: IL HR0550 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Mourns the passing of Edward M. "Ed" Smith.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2024-01-16 - Resolution Adopted [HR0550 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0550-Introduced.html

---

HR0550 LRB103 37049 LAW 67165 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Edward
M. "Ed" Smith, who passed away on January 3, 2024; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith was born to Connell F. Smith and Mary
Jewel Smith in Cairo on September 9, 1954; he received his
Associate of Arts from Shawnee College in 1974; he earned his
bachelor's degree from the National Labor College; he later
graduated from the Harvard University Trade Union Program; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith was a champion of the American Labor
Movement, from his earliest days at the Laborers'
International Union of North America (LiUNA) through his
tenure as chairman and CEO of Ullico Inc., a labor-owned
financial services firm, leaving every place he worked better
than he found it; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith joined LiUNA at age 13 in 1968, working
as a laborer before being elected as business manager of
Laborers' Local Union 773 at age 21 in 1976; focusing his
efforts on using innovative strategies to protect labor
rights, he led 40 organizing drives with groups across
Southern Illinois during the 1970s and 80s, which boosted
Local 773's membership from 300 to 4,000; he was named

HR0550 - 2 - LRB103 37049 LAW 67165 r
business manager of Southern Illinois Laborers' District
Council in 1985, later becoming chairman of the Central
Laborers' Pension Fund; he was appointed regional manager of
the Midwest Region in 1994, serving over 58,000 members; he
was elected as vice president and regional manager of LiUNA,
and he also served as assistant to the general president;
during his tenure, he helped forge the National Alliance for
Fair Contracting, pioneered regional Tri-Funds programs for
contractor cooperation and worker protection, and greatly
expanded LiUNA's political influence throughout the Midwest
Region, lobbying at statehouses and urging members to run for
local office; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith joined Ullico in 2007, assembling an
experienced management team and working hard to redouble the
company's commitment to the labor movement while serving as
executive vice president from January 2007 until May 2008; he
then served as president from May 2008 until he was named CEO
of Ullico in January 2011; under his leadership, Ullico
enhanced its insurance program for union leaders and benefit
plan trustees, grew its union-supporting commercial real
estate financing fund, and generously gave back to the
community, donating millions of dollars each year to
philanthropic causes; internally, he was insistent that the
company take care of its employees, building a culture that
put people first; through his bold leadership and visionary

HR0550 - 3 - LRB103 37049 LAW 67165 r
business mind, he was integral in moving Ullico forward; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith served on the Democratic National
Committee and was a delegate to many national conventions; he
formerly served as chairman of the Illinois State Board of
Investment, as chairman of the National Alliance for Fair
Contracting, and as a member of the Illinois Department of
Labor Advisory Board; he was a board member of the National
Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP), the
Laborers' Charitable Foundation, The Laborers' CARE (TLC), and
America's Agenda: Healthcare for All, and he served as a
trustee for the AFL-CIO Staff Retirement Plan; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith was a key benefactor to the Therapy
Center in Carterville, the Shawnee College Foundation in
Ullin, and the Connell F. Smith Homer Brown Scholarship Fund
in Marion; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith never knew a stranger, making friends
wherever he went and always treating others with dignity, and
he was known for his generous spirit, moral conviction, fierce
loyalty, and infectious optimism; and
WHEREAS, Ed Smith was the husband of Betty, his closest
advisor, the father of Jordan and Matt, a grandfather, and a
friend; and

HR0550 - 4 - LRB103 37049 LAW 67165 r
WHEREAS, Ed Smith will be remembered for the profound
impact he made on the labor movement, Ullico and its
employees, and those around him; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of Edward M. "Ed" Smith and extend our
sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew
and loved him; and be it further