Senate Concurrent Resolution 576

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING WILLIAM GRADY SMITH FOR 68 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE IN MISSISSIPPI STATE GOVERNMENT AND FOR HIS EXEMPLARY LIFE AS A CITIZEN OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHEREAS, William Grady Smith recently completed 68 years of exceptional public service in Mississippi state government; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith was born on January 1, 1911, in Meridian, Mississippi, the son of the late Joseph Johnson and Lula Stallings Smith; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith graduated from Meridian High School in 1928, and furthered his education at Mississippi College where he became known as "Trombone Smith," and where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Mathematics in 1932. After graduation, he studied Accounting at Meridian Business College until 1933; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith began work in 1934 as a Social Caseworker for the Meridian Transient Bureau, and continued there until the agency closed in 1935. From 1935-1936, he worked as a Payroll Clerk for Weaver Construction Company of Jackson; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith began his career in Mississippi state government in 1936 as an Office Clerk at the State Highway Department; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith was employed as a Junior Claims Examiner at the Mississippi Unemployment Compensation Commission on March 14, 1938. After 14 days on the job, he was promoted to Senior Claims Examiner and helped process the first unemployment compensation claims filed in Mississippi on April 1, 1938; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith continued his work with the Mississippi Unemployment Compensation Commission, which in 1948 became the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, rising through the ranks as Status Deputy, Appeals Referee, Chief of Fraud Prevention and Detection and Chief of Benefit Payments; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith, as Chief of Benefit Payments, wrote the state regulations administering the disbursement of the first Disaster Unemployment Assistance claims in 1969, resulting from Hurricane Camille. These regulations, which Mr. Smith was commended for on a federal level, remain in effect today; and

WHEREAS, while employed by the Mississippi Employment Security Commission, Grady Smith was the Regional Representative on the Board of the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES), and served as President of the Mississippi chapter of that association. Mr. Smith has also received IAPES Service Awards for 15, 25 and 35 years of dedication to his work; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith served as Chief of Benefit Payments from March 1, 1955, until his retirement on January 30, 1976, with 40 years of state service; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith was reinstated as a retiree-hire on September 7, 1976, as an Appeals Referee with the Board of Review on a part-time basis, and served in that capacity for 28 years until December 15, 2004, when the Mississippi Employment Security Commission was reorganized into the Mississippi Department of Employment Security; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith was married to Ruby Annette Greer on June 22, 1937, and to this union four children were born: Dorothy Jo Smith Antrim, Alice Ann Smith (deceased), Margie Mae Smith Coulson Antrim and William David Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Smith also have six grandchildren, Stuart Lamar Antrim, Sharon Leigh Antrim Smith, Susan Lynn Antrim Rayburn, Steven Glenn Antrim, Christopher Keith Coulson and William Matthew Smith; and six great-grandchildren, Nathan Drew Antrim, Emily Anne Rayburn, Anna Kathryn Antrim, Sarah Beth Smith, Reese Antrim Rayburn and McKenzie Grace Smith; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith has been a member of Calvary Baptist Church since 1938, and has served faithfully as a Deacon, Chairman of the Deacon Board, Assistant Church Treasurer, Sunday School Director and Teacher, Director of the Baptist Training Union and President of the Brotherhood. He has earned respect for his knowledge of the scriptures and the practical application of that knowledge to everyday life; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith has served his community as a member of the West Jackson/Metro Civitan Club and was elected President of this organization; and

WHEREAS, Grady Smith has been exemplary in his personal and professional life, which is evidenced by the numerous family, coworkers and friends who seek his advice and counsel. He has been an exceptionally qualified and dedicated public servant who has devoted 68 years of his life in service to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend William Grady Smith for his outstanding service to the State of Mississippi and honor him as an exemplary citizen of the State of Mississippi.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to William Grady Smith and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.