Dems luncheon to feature tribute to Martin Luther King
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Sat, 01/14/2023 - 12:50pm
Event Date:
January 16, 2023 - 1:00pm The speaker at Monday's Democratic luncheon will be Michael “Mike” Smith, a retired high school principal who relocated to Carson City from the Memphis area in 2017. His PowerPoint presentation will commemorate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday observed in his honor since 1986.
Mike Smith was born in Memphis, Tennessee but later found himself in Mississippi, where he received his B.S. in Secondary Education from Rust College, Holly Springs, Mississippi and his M.A. in Educational Administration and Supervision from the University of Mississippi.
His 33-year career as an educator included service as a history and science teacher, basketball coach, assistant principal, student support services coordinator and principal with school districts in northern Mississippi, the city of Memphis, and Shelby County, Tennessee, where he retired in 2017. He is past president of the Shelby County Educators Association,
Throughout his personal and professional life, Mike has received an array of awards and recognitions for his work on the local, state and federal levels. He has been a tireless and dedicated public servant, an advocate for the arts and humanities, and a person who continually builds bridges to others.
Mike now resides in Carson City with his lovely wife Margaret, a fifth generation Nevadan, and their puppy Louie. In 2018 he launched "Ideas on Tap" - a monthly series of interactive events to share views on contemporary issues. He has served as a member on the Carson City Redevelopment Authority's Citizens Committee, and on the Carson City Symphony Association's board of trustees.
While a resident of what he calls "the charming state of Mississippi" Mike cut his teeth in the political arena where he was a candidate for the Southaven Board of Alderman and for the Mississippi State Senate. He is also the founder and President Emeritus of the North Mississippi Cultural Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit.
In 2000 Mike was a Ward 4 candidate for the Carson City Board of Supervisors. The same year he was appointed by Governor Sisolak to be a member of Nevada’s Employee Management Relations Board, and just recently he was appointed by the Carson City Board of Supervisors to a three-year term on the Cultural Commission.
In his free time Mike serves as Basileus of Reno's Alpha Nu Nu chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity. Some of Mike’s hobbies and interests include reading, cooking, golf and showcasing his musical talents as a singer, saxophonist and occasionally dancer. He has one adult son, Phillip, who resides in North Richland Hills, Texas with his wife Sallie and their son Royce.
Mike credits his adopted parents for shaping and molding his career in education, and instilling him with life-long skills and the intestinal fortitude to accomplish his goals and overcome all obstacles. The axiom he lives by is “A bend in the road is not the end of the road unless you fail to make the turn.”
Sponsored by the Democratic Men's Committee, this event is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Monday, January 16th, and can be attended either in person at Black Bear Diner, inside Max Casino, or online via Zoom. Mike's presentation will begin after all the lunch orders have been taken, around 1:30. Those wishing to be on distribution for luncheon Zoom links should contact Rich Dunn at richdunn@aol.com.
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