[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Robert C. Smith to receive Lang Volunteer Award

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: John Baker
Trust Specialist
(573) 817-5027
jdbaker at GoColumbiaMo.com


Robert C. Smith to receive Lang Volunteer Award

COLUMBIA, MO (April 25, 2012) - Robert (Bob) C. Smith is selected to receive the fourth annual Howard B. Lang Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service to the City of Columbia. The award will be presented to Smith at the City of Columbia's volunteer reception at noon on Friday, May 18, at the Sunrise Optimist Club building. Bob's son Robert D. and other family and friends will be there to join in the festivities.

Born in Fulton, and a 1940 graduate of Hickman High School, Smith was elected as a state representative in the Missouri Legislature in 1954, where he was the youngest speaker pro-tem in Missouri's history up to that time. Later, he served as mayor of Columbia in 1961-62.

Among his numerous volunteer activities, Smith was president of the State Historical Society of Missouri and has been a permanent trustee of that organization.  As a board member and president of the Missouri Symphony Society, Smith was involved in the restoration of the Missouri Theater. An honorary lifetime deacon and member at Columbia's First Baptist Church, Smith also served as a member of the Stephen College Board of Curators from 1956-1996.

Smith initiated action to preserve the Gordon tract, now known as Grindstone Park, and he worked on the planning of Columbia Regional Airport. While he was president of the Boone County Bar Association, Smith, out of his concern for people who could not afford legal assistance, led the effort to establish a legal aid program for indigent persons in the county. Smith received the Missouri Chapter of the NAACP Distinguished Service Award for sponsoring the first enabling legislation to establish the Missouri Human Rights Commission.

 One of his nominators said, "His contributions undoubtedly qualify for their impact, initiative and length of service." Another nominator, who personally knew Howard Lang, said, "It is my certain belief that Howard B. Lang Jr. would very much want this award to go to Bob Smith while he is living and able to appreciate the same." And one of Howard Lang's daughters, Martha Delmez, commented upon hearing of Smith receiving the award, "Robert C. Smith, like Howard B. Lang Jr. before him, is a man of faith, intelligence and integrity; Columbia is fortunate to have had two such committed and distinguished public servants."

The selection committee for the annual Lang award changes every year but always includes the sitting mayor of Columbia. Mayor Bob McDavid says about this year's recipient, "It's an honor to support the Lang Award going to Bob Smith, who has been a fixture in Columbia sharing his time, energy and wisdom through city volunteer posts for over 60 years."

Past recipients of the Lang Award are Ed Kaiser, Darwin Hindman and Dave Griggs.


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