[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 121 (Wednesday, August 5, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S8862]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     REMEMBERING JOEL PIERCE SMITH

 Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, today I wish to pay tribute to my 
good friend Joel Pierce Smith, Sr. He was a personal friend who passed 
away on July 30, 2009, and, along with his family, I mourn his passing.
  Joel was born on February 13, 1929, in Samson, AL. After graduating 
from Florida State University, he went to work at the Birmingham News-
Post Herald in 1953. This would mark the start of a newspaper career 
that would span five decades. Following his work in Birmingham, Joel 
served as the editor of the the Geneva Reaper for 3 years.
  In 1958, Joel moved to Eufaula, AL, and was named editor of the 
Eufaula Tribune. A year later, he was named publisher. An avid 
journalist, Joel also edited and published the Cuthbert Times and News 
Record of Cuthbert, GA. In 1999, Joel handed over the editorial reins 
of the Eufaula Tribune to his son Jack, though he continued to write 
his weekly personal column, Candid Comments, until 2006. All told, Joel 
wrote Candid Comments for 51 years, never missing a week. He truly was 
an extraordinary newspaperman and, as such, garnered numerous state and 
national awards. These awards recognized both the quality of his work 
and his leadership in his community and amongst his peers. Among his 
honors were the Alabama Press Association's Community Service Award, 
General Excellence Award, and the Lifetime Achievement Award.
  Joel was active in both the Alabama Press Association and the 
National Newspaper Association throughout his career. He served as 
president for both the Alabama Press Association and the Alabama 
Journalism Foundation and he held a seat on the board of directors for 
the Alabama Press Association and the Georgia Press Association. 
Additionally, Joel served as the Alabama State Chairman of the National 
Newspaper Association for many years, chairing the latter's 1992 
Governmental Affairs Conference in Washington, DC.
  Throughout his distinguished career, Joel remained an active voice 
for progressive change in Eufaula. Among other things, he encouraged 
the reorganization of the Chamber of Commerce, promoted tourism in the 
area, and crusaded for the preservation of Eufaula's architectural 
heritage. He served on the board of trustees at Birmingham-Southern 
College for more than 25 years, where he became life trustee, and at 
Andrew College in Cuthbert, GA. Joel served on the Board of Education 
of the city of Eufaula and as a trustee at the Lakeside School. His 
good work was not overlooked in the community and he was honored as the 
Eufaula Kiwanis Club's Citizen of the Year in 2002 and received the 
Alabama Historical Commission's Distinguished Service Award.
  Joel is loved and will be missed by his wife Ann Sutton Smith and his 
three sons, Joel Pierce Smith, Jr., Abb Jackson Smith II, and William 
Sutton Smith. Joel was an inspiration to many and will be remembered as 
an outstanding husband, father, editor, publisher, friend, and 
community leader.
  I ask the entire Senate to join me in recognizing and honoring the 
life of my friend, Joel Pierce Smith.

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