Jump to content

Donald R. Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Donald R. Smith
66th Treasurer of Illinois
In office
January 10, 1977 – January 8, 1979
GovernorJim Thompson
Preceded byAlan J. Dixon
Succeeded byJerome Cosentino
Personal details
BornNovember 13, 1926
DiedFebruary 4, 1982(1982-02-04) (aged 55)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican

Donald R. Smith (November 13, 1926 – February 4, 1982)[1] was an American politician.

Smith graduated from York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois and then joined the United States Navy in 1944 during World War II and served until 1946. He went to Loyola University Chicago and John Marshall Law School In Chicago, Illinois. He served as County Treasurer of DuPage County, Illinois and served on the DuPage County Commission. He was a Republican. From 1965 until 1977, Smith served as chief fiscal officer in the office of the Illinois Treasurer. In 1977, he was appointed Illinois Treasurer when Alan J. Dixon resigned to serve as Illinois Secretary of State. Smith served until 1979.[2]

On February 4, 1982, Smith was found murdered in the Radisson Hotel on North Michigan Avenue. He had been strangled to death.[3][4] On February 5, 1982, two suspects held for questioning in the death of Smith were released by the police after passing polygraph tests.[5]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 'Illinois, Cook County, Deaths, Entry Number: 602676
  2. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1977-1978,' Biographical Sketch of Donald Smith, pg. 28-29
  3. ^ 'AROUND THE NATION; Ex-Treasurer of Illinois Is Found Slay In Hotel,' New York Times, February 5, 1982
  4. ^ 'State's chief fiscal aide slain; 2 men sough for questioning,' Henry Wood and Lynn Emmerman , Chicago Tribune, February 5, 1982, pg. 1, 18
  5. ^ Wattley, Philip (February 6, 1982). "2 quizzed in death of state aid". The Chicago Tribune.