Tifton's Clarence Smith Named Technical College System Benefactor of the Year
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Tiftonite Clarence Smith, pictured third from the right, was recently named 2011 Benefactor of the Year for the Technical College System of Georgia through the Technical College Foundation Association. Pictured, left to right, are friends Margie and Carroll Applewhite, MTC president Tina Anderson, Smith, MTC Vice President of Economic Development Shawn Utley and MTC Foundation Director Darbie Avera. |
The Georgia Technical College Foundation Association (TCFA) acknowledged its most outstanding volunteers and benefactors for 2011 at an annual awards dinner in Savannah on November 1. Tift County’s Clarence Smith was among those honored for his benevolence.
The TCFA Volunteer of the Year and Benefactor of the Year awards recognize outstanding contributions that individuals and corporations have made on behalf of their Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) colleges. Specifically, the TCFA Benefactor of the Year award winners are individuals and companies that view their donations as investments in their local workforce and the future of their communities.
Nominated by the Moultrie Technical College (MTC) Foundation, Inc., Smith presented the College with an unparalleled donation in December 2007 - a tract of 107 acres of wooded property on Perdue Road in Tifton, appraised at close to $700,000.
The MTC Foundation develops resources for college needs in its service area of Colquitt, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. Such needs include student scholarships, program equipment and various building projects not covered by state-allocated funds.
“This is the single largest donation that Moultrie Technical College has received in the school’s history,” said MTC Foundation Director Darbie Avera.
The donation is also a gift that will keep on giving, providing money to the MTC Foundation for years to come as the land produces pine straw and timber that can be harvested for sales.
Moultrie Tech’s Tifton Campus currently uses the donated land as an on-site laboratory environment for the College’s fish and wildlife management program and as a special event site with the recent addition of Smith Lodge.
“Mr. Smith’s generosity and support of the students at Moultrie Technical College is unprecedented. His belief in what we do for our students is a compliment to the faculty and staff of this college,” said MTC President Tina Anderson. “He gave us an opportunity to provide educational opportunities to our students that would have been impossible without his donation. We are forever thankful of his belief in us.”
Smith shared the award with Newnan Hospital, Inc., which was nominated by the West Georgia Technical College Foundation. Each of the winners received a commemorative Frabel glass sculpture.
Born in 1929, Smith left home at the age of 13 to begin a lifetime of work. With only an eighth grade education, he went on to graduate from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College with an Associate’s Degree in Agriculture.
Before attending ABAC, Smith served in the US Army from 1948 to 1952 and is a veteran of the Korean War. During his years of service to the country, he received many unit citations as well as a Purple Heart.
After Smith returned home to Tifton from his military service, he enjoyed a long and successful career working for Tri-County Gas while also farming and raising livestock.
Married to the late Eloise Arrington for 50 years, Smith and his wife raised three children: Roger Smith of Tifton, Faye Simpson of Adel, and Jean Ivey of Rebecca. He has four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
He has been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Tifton for more than 35 years and a Mason and member of the American Legion for more than 50 years each. Smith is also a long-time member and supporter of Zion Hope Baptist Church.
