[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 150 (Wednesday, December 10, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1778]
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

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2014

  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
distinguished public servant, principled business leader and dear 
friend to my wife, Vivian and me, Georgia State Representative Calvin 
Smyre. Representative Smyre will be retiring this month as Executive 
Vice President of Corporate External Affairs of Synovus, a financial 
services company based in Columbus, Georgia.
  Representative Smyre earned a degree in Business Administration from 
Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Georgia. In 1974, he was 
elected to the Georgia House of Representatives as its youngest member 
at 27 years of age. I was honored to have served with Rep. Smyre during 
my own tenure in the Georgia General Assembly, and I feel blessed to 
have gained a dear friend.
  A 40-year legislative veteran, Rep. Smyre has built a repertoire of 
legislative accomplishments. He currently serves on the Appropriations 
Committee and the Rules Committee and is Chairman Emeritus of the House 
Democratic Caucus. In 1983, Rep. Smyre transcended racial barriers when 
Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed him as Administration Floor Leader, 
making Rep. Smyre the first African American in history to hold this 
position. In 1985, he was elected to the Democratic National Committee, 
becoming the first African-American elected official from Georgia to 
serve on the Committee. Then, in 2001, Rep. Smyre made history again 
when Governor Roy Barnes named him Chairman of the Democratic Party of 
Georgia, making Rep. Smyre the first African American to chair the 
state Democratic Party. Nationally, Rep. Smyre is President Emeritus of 
the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and the 
immediate Past President of the NBCSL Foundation.
  In addition to his legislative achievements, Rep. Smyre has also 
built a successful business career. In 1976, he joined Columbus Bank & 
Trust Company, the Columbus-based division of Synovus, as a Manager 
Trainee. Two years later, he was promoted to Assistant Vice President 
and Marketing Officer. He served as Assistant Vice President and Vice 
President of Corporate Administration for Synovus from 1984 to 1990 and 
as Vice President of Corporate Affairs from 1992 to 1994. In 1996, Rep. 
Smyre was named Senior Vice President and Assistant to the Chairman for 
Community Affairs. In 1999, he was promoted to Executive Vice President 
and has served in this position ever since. In addition, he has the 
role of Synovus representative on the Financial Services Roundtable, 
the leading advocacy organization for the financial industry 
headquartered in Washington, D.C.
  As former Chairman and CEO of the Synovus Foundation, the 
organization that directs corporate and philanthropic gifts from 
Synovus, Rep. Smyre has been one of the driving forces in ensuring that 
the company creates goodwill in the communities that it serves. Synovus 
boasts approximately $26 billion in assets and provides commercial and 
retail banking and investment services to consumers in the southeast 
United States. The company has been named one of Fortune magazine's 
``100 Best Companies to Work For'' in America multiple times.
  Although his business career and legislative duties have kept him 
busy, Rep. Smyre still finds the time to serve his community in various 
other capacities. He has held leadership and membership positions on 
numerous boards, foundations and organizations. He is a devoted 
Christian and has been a member of Greater Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church 
for over fifty years.
  Nelson Mandela once said, ``For to be free is not merely to cast off 
one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the 
freedom of others.'' Rep. Smyre embodies this statement thoroughly, for 
in light of his great personal success, he continues to fight to ensure 
that every voice is respected and heard.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me, my wife Vivian, and the 
Columbus, Georgia community in honoring Georgia State Representative 
Calvin Smyre for his decades of leadership at Synovus. While he leaves 
behind a great legacy at Synovus, we have certainly not seen the last 
of Rep. Smyre. He will continue to represent his constituents in the 
state legislature and he will continue to serve the Columbus community 
with integrity and distinction.

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