Article Feature: Matt Smith
As the youngest of four children, Matt spent his formative years growing up on “the other side of the river” in Morton. Despite Morton’s idyllic setting, Matt gravitated toward a more Grapes of Wrath childhood; he began detassling corn the summer after 4th grade and took on a paper route shortly thereafter. Thus began a lifetime of diligence and hard work that continues to this day.
After graduating from Spalding High School in Peoria, Matt matriculated to the University of Illinois in Champaign. He spent the next seven years there, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in architecture in 1990 and a law degree in 1993.
Matt began his career at Quinn, Johnston, Henderson, Pretorius & Cerulo on August 22, 1993. He recalls fondly, “apparently they forgot I was starting since no one had set up an office for me.” And so it was that Matt spent the first days of his professional career at a study carrel in the basement. “From there, I moved on to the windowless room that is now a copy room, and finally an official office... window and all!”
Matt’s wife, Siobhan, was a law school classmate of his. Looking back, Matt reflects, “I can’t tell you thing one about First Year Property class, but I definitely remember meeting Sio. Oh, and in case I forget, she reminds me that she graduated with a GPA .004 higher than mine!” Matt and Sio were married in 1993, one week after graduating law school. They have two beautiful daughters, Brighid (14 years old) and Ella (13). They live in Dunlap.
Matt loves the people he works with and encounters on a daily basis. “I worked as a runner for a local firm here in town while I was in high school, and then for another firm during law school. As a youngster, I just assumed that any ‘real job’ would be dull and boring. But I learned from those early experiences that with the right people around you, the work can be quite interesting and energizing.” Any lessons learned from these early brushes with the legal field? “Yeah, screaming at your employees doesn’t work. Throwing files at them generally doesn’t either.” After 17 years here at Quinn Johnston, the lessons still apply!
Outside work, Matt is an avid artist, dabbling in everything from watercolors to digital illustration. “I was always a doodler in school,” Matt recalls. “It got to the point in law school where I would bring a notebook and a sketch pad to class. That way when I wasn’t taking notes I would divert my attention to drawing the professor or some random classmate. In a weird way, it actually helped focus my concentration on what the professor was saying.” Matt currently focuses his artistry on comic-style books for his girls and the annual family Christmas card. How good is he? “Semi-pro,” is his best estimate. “Better than your average guy on the street; not as good as the guys doing Batman and Superman.” So if you ever find yourself in a meeting with Matt and you see him reach for that other note pad, watch out; you might just end up in his next comic book creation.