[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 169 (Monday, December 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1759-E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              IN RECOGNITION OF THE HONORABLE CALVIN SMYRE

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 2, 2013

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
distinguished public servant, devoted man of Faith and dear friend to 
my wife, Vivian and me, Georgia State Representative Calvin Smyre. 
Representative Smyre was honored for his contributions to Greater Ward 
Chapel A.M.E. Church on Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 11 a.m. in 
Columbus, Georgia.
  Representative Smyre earned a degree in Business Administration from 
Fort Valley State University. In 1974, he was elected to the Georgia 
House of Representatives as its youngest member at 26 years of age. I 
was fortunate to have the opportunity to serve with Representative 
Smyre during my own tenure in the Georgia General Assembly, and we 
became great friends.
  A longtime statesman, Representative Smyre has built a repertoire of 
legislative accomplishments. He currently serves on the Appropriations 
Committee and the Rules Committee and is the former Chairman of the 
House Minority Caucus. He played major roles in authoring and 
sponsoring important legislation, including the legislation making Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a state holiday; creating the 
Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons; and creating a new Georgia 
State Flag. He is President Emeritus of the National Black Caucus of 
State Legislators.
  In addition to his legislative achievements, Representative Smyre has 
also built a successful business career. He has served as Executive 
Vice President of Corporate External Affairs of Synovus and President 
of the Synovus Foundation. He also serves as one of eight members of 
the company's Corporate Executive Group. Synovus, a Columbus, Georgia-
based diversified financial services holding company, has been named 
one of Fortune magazine's ``100 Best Companies to Work For'' in America 
multiple times.
  Yet, Representative Smyre is more than a legislator, he is more than 
a business executive, he is a servant to all humankind and still finds 
time to serve his community. He has held leadership and membership 
positions on numerous boards, foundations and organizations. Dr. Maya 
Angelou once said that, ``I've learned that you shouldn't go through 
life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw 
something back.'' Representative Smyre continues to throw a prodigious 
amount of love and service back to the Columbus, Georgia community, the 
State of Georgia, and our country.
  But most importantly, Representative Smyre is a devoted Man of God. 
Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church has been his home for more than fifty 
years, the members of the congregation are his family, and worship is 
his sustenance. Representative Smyre has made numerous contributions to 
the Church and for that, he has been honored with the ``Calvin Smyre 
Tree of Life.'' This is the Church's way of thanking Representative 
Smyre for pouring his heart, body, and soul into Greater Ward Chapel 
A.ME.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, Greater 
Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, and the Columbus, Georgia community in 
honoring Georgia State Representative Calvin Smyre for his dedicated 
service, leadership, and faith.

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