ATLANTA – State Representative Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), Dean of the Georgia House of Representatives, recently received the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Key Citizen Award, which is GMA’s highest form of recognition. Dean Smyre was presented with the award during the organization’s 2022 Annual Convention in Savannah on June 26, 2022.
“I want to thank the Georgia Municipal Association for this esteemed honor and for their continued partnership throughout my many years at the Capitol,” said Dean Smyre. “The work that GMA does is vitally important for our local governments, and we all share a common goal to strengthen and build a better Georgia. Although my time at the Capitol is coming to a close, I will always remain committed to the people of Columbus as we build a bright future and better Georgia.”
“Although most of the past recipients have made their mark on Georgia in the political arena, they all could also be characterized as statesmen rather than politicians,” said GMA Executive Director Larry Hanson while presenting the award to Dean Smyre. “The title of ‘statesman’ is most appropriate and fitting for the person we honor today.”
GMA selected Dean Smyre for his decades of service in the Georgia General Assembly. Previous Key Citizen Award recipients include President Jimmy Carter, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, Georgia House Speaker Thomas B. Murphy and Governor Nathan Deal.
Created in 1933, the Georgia Municipal Association is the only state organization that represents municipal governments in Georgia. The mission of GMA is to anticipate and influence the forces shaping Georgia’s cities and to provide leadership, tools and services that assist municipal governments in becoming more innovative, effective and responsive. GMA currently represents 537 cities in Georgia. The association is governed by a 66-member board of directors composed of city officials. GMA’s programming is implemented by its executive director and more than 95 full-time employees.
After 48 years of service, Rep. Smyre will retire from the Georgia House of Representatives when his term ends in January 2023. President Joe Biden has nominated Rep. Smyre to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, and Rep. Smyre has begun the U.S. Senate confirmation process to become a U.S. Ambassador. Rep. Smyre is the longest serving member of the Georgia General Assembly. He was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974 as its youngest member at 27 years of age.
For more information about GMA, please click here.
Representative Calvin Smyre represents the citizens of District 135, which includes portions of Muscogee County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1974 and currently serves on the Special Committee on Access to Quality Health Care, Special Committee on Access to the Civil Justice System, and Special Committee on Election Integrity. He also serves as a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and the Transportation, Higher Education and Rules committees.
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