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

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

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

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