The following is an Illiana Genealogical Historical Society Foundation Release
When: Tuesday, April 29, 2025 – 6:00 p.m. (social); 6:30 p.m. (dinner); award presentation (approximately 7:30 p.m.)
Where: Turtle Run Banquet Center, 332 E. Liberty Lane, Danville, IL 61832
Cost: $50.00 per attendee (or $250.00 for an event co-sponsorship that provides two tickets)
Tickets may be ordered by mail – orders must be received by April 18.
Please send your check, made out to IGHS Foundation, to:
IGHS Foundation
215 W. North Street
Danville, IL 61832
Honoring Tim Smith
The Illiana Genealogical & Historical Society Foundation, 215 W. North Street, Danville, IL, is pleased to announce that the 2025 honoree of its sixth annual historical preservation award is Tim Smith. To emphasize its aim to promote and preserve local and family history of the Illiana area as well as to make it more accessible to the public, the Foundation annually recognizes a deserving individual who has made significant contributions to preserve local history.
Tim Smith has been an active participant over the years to preserve Vermilion County and Central Illinois history, primarily in researching the life and career of Danville’s Joseph G. Cannon, legendary Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1903 until 1911, while serving 46 years in the House. Mr. Smith has devoted many hours of research and written multiple articles and essays on “Uncle Joe” Cannon and other topics of local historical interest. He has been a featured writer in several issues of the Vermilion County Museum Society’s quarterly magazine., The Heritage.
Mr. Smith is a graduate of Urbana High School and the University of Illinois – with an undergraduate degree with distinction in history as well as a Juris Doctor degree from the College of Law. He has served as a United States Navy Judge Advocate after graduation. From 1977-2010, he was in private practice as an attorney in Danville – at first in general practice, but later specializing in business transactions, real estate transactions, banking, wills, and trusts.
After his retirement in 2010, he started researching and writing about the life and long career of Joseph G. Cannon. He has explored other topics of local historical interest as well. He was involved in the effort to name the Vermilion County Courthouse Annex in honor of Joseph G. Cannon and has given numerous presentations to varied groups in the community about Cannon and our local history.
He was married to the late Jane Dighton Smith, a longtime elementary teacher in the Danville Schools. They have one daughter, Jessica Smith Diel.
Mark Denman, IGHS Foundation president, states, “Tim Smith, the deserving recipient of the IGHS Foundation’s Sixth Annual 2025 Historic Preservation Award, has exhaustively researched and documented the life and professional career of Joseph G. “Uncle Joe” Cannon, as well as other varied aspects of our rich local history. He has written several articles and essays focused on these topics. He has shared his knowledge at numerous local functions about his carefully documented research, which has captured many an audience member’s interest in our local history. We look forward to honoring his contributions to preserve our local history.”
