Calvin Smith (Illinois politician) facts for kids

Calvin L. Smith (1907-1968) was an American politician and pharmacist. He served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1965 until his death in 1968. As a member of the Democratic Party, he represented the 24th District in the Illinois General Assembly.

Early Life and Career

Calvin L. Smith was born in Springfield, Ohio, in 1907. His family moved to Chicago when he was young. He studied pharmacy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. After graduating, he owned and ran a pharmacy with his father for 15 years.

Smith was a respected pharmacist. From 1951 to 1952, he was the president of the Chicago Pharmacists Association. He also worked as the chief pharmacist at the Cook County Jail. In 1961, he became a deputy coroner for Cook County. A coroner is an official who investigates deaths.

Community Involvement

Calvin Smith was very active in his community. He was a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Prince Hall Masons. He also attended Chicago's Pilgrim Baptist Church.

He was involved in local politics, too. He worked with the Democratic Party in Chicago's 4th ward. He served as a precinct captain, helping organize voters in his area. He was also an executive secretary for the ward organization.

Political Career

Smith was first elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1964. This election was special because all representatives were elected from across the entire state. This happened because lawmakers could not agree on how to divide the state into districts. All 118 Democratic candidates, including Smith, won their seats.

In 1966, Smith ran for re-election to represent the 24th District. He won and continued his work in the House.

Key Contributions

During his time in office, Calvin Smith supported important laws. He helped pass legislation to pay teachers based on their workload. He also worked to create programs that would help African American students learn job skills. These programs are called apprenticeship programs.

In 1966, he was one of the four people who started a study committee. This committee later led to the creation of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. This group helps make sure the voices of African American citizens are heard in the state government.

Death

Calvin L. Smith passed away on June 29, 1968. He died from a heart attack at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He was serving his second term in the Illinois House of Representatives at the time of his death.