Meet the Honorable Calvin Smyre, business executive, former state legislator, community and national leader, earned his BS degree from Fort Valley State University in 1970, majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Accounting. He holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Morehouse School of Medicine.

His career path has taken him from being a community organizer and director of “War on Poverty” program in Columbus to his current position as Executive Vice President, Corporate External Affairs, Synovus Financial Corp. (Retired – December 2014)

Elected at the age of 27, he is now the “Dean” of the Georgia General Assembly. As a 46-year legislative veteran, he serves on the most important panels of the House: Appropriations, Rules and Higher Education.

Rep. Smyre has a distinguished legislative record which includes authoring the legislation making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday a state holiday and legislation creating the Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons. He was also instrumental and co-sponsor of the historic legislation creating a new Georgia State Flag and the HOPE Scholarship Program.

Nationally, he is President Emeritus of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) and a Past President of the NBCSL Foundation.