[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 22591]]

                    TRIBUTE TO RUTH SINGLETON SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES E. CLYBURN

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2001

  Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ruth 
Singleton Smith of Florence, South Carolina, who is a respected member 
of the community and who has played a major role in several political 
campaigns, including my own. Mrs. Smith's career achievements and 
accomplishments exemplify her extraordinary contributions to the state 
of South Carolina.
  Mrs. Smith was born in Florence County, attended Florence County 
Public Schools, and graduated from Wilson High School in 1945. She is a 
graduate of South Carolina State College, American University, and 
Temple Business School.
  Mrs. Smith traveled extensively throughout the world with her 
husband, the late Willie Lesley Smith, who was a career Army 
serviceman. Upon his retirement in 1965, the Smiths returned to 
Florence, South Carolina and Mrs. Smith became the Public Relations 
Director for WBTW TV 13 of Florence. She held that position until her 
retirement in 1992. She also served as WBTW Liaison for Corporate, 
Business, and Government Relations from 1992 to 1996. Currently she is 
the Community Coordinator of Health Education at McLeod Regional 
Medical Center. She joined the medical center in 1997 and since then 
she has been responsible for creating, developing, and maintaining 
health programs for the indigent within the community.
  I would like to express my appreciation for Mrs. Smith's deep 
interest and active participation in politics on both the local, state, 
and national levels. She has demonstrated strong commitment to the 
Democratic process through her many years of educating voters about the 
need and right to vote. She has served as a Poll Manager, and she 
served as a political consultant for a number of political campaigns, 
including: Florence Mayoral, Florence City Council, Florence County 
Council, Florence County Solicitor's, and Florence County Sheriff 
Campaigns. She was also actively involved with South Carolina State 
Representative, Senatorial, Attorney General, Adjutant General, and 
Governor Campaigns. She also worked on the U.S. Senatorial Campaign of 
Ernest Hollings and on the Carter/Mondale and Clinton/Gore Presidential 
Campaigns. She also served as manager in the Pee Dee region during my 
own bid for Congress. I will always remember that she told me ``I'll 
get you to Washington even if I have to carry you on my own back''.
  Mrs. Smith displayed true enthusiasm and commitment when she ran at-
large for Florence County Council, Although her bid was unsuccessful, 
her tremendous spirits were not weakened.
  Mrs. Smith is a lifelong member of Mt. Zion AME Church, choir member, 
and President of the Richard Allen Club. She is Commissioner for the 
Florence Housing Authority; the Mental Health Commission; the Executive 
Board of the NAACP; and the billboard Committee under the leadership of 
the Florence City Council.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you to join me today in honoring Mrs. Ruth 
Singleton Smith for the incredible service she has provided to the 
residents of South Carolina. I sincerely thank Mrs. Smith for the 
outstanding contributions she has given to the state of South Carolina 
through her distinguished service to the fields of health, public 
relations, and politics. I would like to thank her for her continual 
support and wish her good luck and Godspeed.

                          ____________________