[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1450]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          DR. WALTER L. SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise to herald the 
achievements of Dr. Walter L. Smith, and to acknowledge our pride in 
his contribution to the education community.
  Dr. Smith was born and spent his early childhood in Tampa, FL before 
moving to live with family in Cairo, Georgia and Harlem, New York. A 
self-proclaimed rebellious child, Dr. Smith dropped out of high school 
at the age of 16 to work at a processing plant. After stints in the 
Army studying medical laboratory technology and working in a hospital, 
he moved back in Tampa in 1957 and enrolled in St. Petersburg's Gibbs 
High School, which doubled as a community college by night. By the age 
of 23, he had completed his GED and started classes at Gibbs Junior 
College, where he served as the first student body president. Dr. Smith 
continued his educational pursuits at Florida A&M and earned his 
bachelor's and master's degree. After graduation, Dr. Smith was named 
an African American Institute Scholar and studied at the University of 
Cape Coast in Ghana and the University of Lagos in Nigeria. Upon his 
return, Dr. Smith continued his education at Florida State University, 
where he received his PhD in Higher Education.
  Dr. Smith served as Provost of Hillsborough Community College before 
accepting the position as President at Roxbury Community College in 
Massachusetts. In 1977, Dr. Smith returned to Florida to serve as the 
President of his alma mater, FAMU. Our community burst with pride. 
During his presidency, FAMU grew from seven to eleven schools and 
colleges. The university also became a Division of Graduate Studies and 
Continuing Education under his tenure in office. In 1985, Dr. Smith 
ended his presidency and was named a Senior Fulbright Scholar to the 
University of Malawi in Central Africa and served as the International 
Team Leader for Higher Education in the Republic of South Africa. 
There, he built South Africa's first American-based community college.
  In 2000, Dr. Smith moved back to his hometown of Tampa and opened a 
local library. Named in his honor, the Dr. Walter L. Smith Library, 
located in a converted house just blocks from his childhood home, 
serves as both a learning center and haven for local children to 
cultivate their interests and follow their dreams toward higher 
education.
  Dr. Smith's perseverance and successes have most recently been 
recognized with the Cornelius P. Turner Award. This award, presented 
annually by the GED Testing Service of the American Council on 
Education, recognizes a GED graduate who has made outstanding 
contributions to society and speaks volumes about Dr. Smith's unlikely 
road to success.
  The Tampa community is proud to recognize Dr. Smith for this award 
and his many significant contributions to the education community. His 
determination and hard work have made him an inspirational leader 
within our Tampa Bay community.

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