29-01-2025
State of Georgia honors former Columbus lawmaker Calvin Smyre with portrait in Capitol
ATLANTA, Ga. () — A retired Columbus lawmaker is received a high honor from his former Colleagues on Tuesday afternoon in Atlanta.
That service was honored when Smyre's portrait was placed on a third-floor wall just outside the House chamber.
Smyre was elected to the Georgia House in 1974 and over the next five decades his influence and power as a lawmaker grew.
Smyre, a Columbus Democrat, was in numerous House leadership positions when the Democrats controlled state government. Two decades ago, when Republicans gained control of Georgia government, Smyre had considerable clout for his ability to work across party line.
The portrait was painted by Columbus artist Steven Tette. We caught up with him inside the Capitol.
'As an artist, what we want most is for our works to be seen and to be placed next to paintings that are 100 years old, 150 years old,' said Tette. 'And know that this is an honor that happens every few decades, not every year means the world not only to me as a painter, but to my artistic career.'
A portrait of former state Representative Calvin Smyre was unveiled under the Gold Dome this afternoon. Smyre served 48 years in those halls, and he's been out of the General Assembly for the last two years.
Smyre becomes just the seventh African American to have an official portrait hanging here in the state Capitol. The first was Martin Luther King Jr., back in 1974 – the same year Smyre was elected.
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