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ARTHUR F. (“ART”) SMEJKAL
15763 Best Road
Davis, IL 61019
Phone: (815) 248-3455
update 11/29/04
Art was fortunate to receive a four-year fully paid basketball scholarship to the University of South Carolina. During his freshman year at USC, he broke into the starting varsity lineup and had a successful sports career with the Gamecocks. He married in his senior year and left school the second semester. Soon afterwards he joined the U.S. Army under the six-year program, (six months active duty and five and one-half years reserve). He finished his education and then started teaching eighth grade at Big Hollow School. This was followed by teaching position at Ringwood School in McHenry County. During this time two sons were born, Art the third (called “Ari”) and David. Art has held the position of Superintendent in several schools, including Lotus Elementary and Avon Center School in Lake County. While he was at Avon Center his marriage ended in divorce in 1982. Shortly after that he became a Christian and married Mary who has two daughters, Rachel and Rebecca. In 1994 Art retired after 37 years in education in Lake County, Illinois, his last Superintendent position being with the Fox Lake Elementary School system. After retirement, he started working for his son Ari in downtown Chicago, building furniture and refurbishing the interior of homes. In October 1999, his wife Mary took advantage of an opportunity for an early retirement. They then built a home on Lake Summerset, a community in Davis, Illinois. It is located 3 miles from the Wisconsin state line and halfway between Freeport and Rockford. Ten years ago all of Art and Mary’s children married within a 13-month period. They are now blessed with seven wonderful grandchildren.
Art remarks: “Retirement and life is great. We enjoy traveling, snorkeling, riding our snowmobiles, boating and biking, but most of all we enjoy entertaining our family and friends.”
