MONTEREY, Calif., Aug. 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Jerry Smith was elected Monterey County Supervisor, District 4, in November 2004, thus becoming the first African-American to be elected to that governing board in a hundred and fifty five years. Smith has become the first of what will be numerous profiles of worthy individuals to be presented on the new web site, PositiveBlackImage.com.
Before becoming a Supervisor, Smith served as Mayor of the City of Seaside for three terms. He was first elected Mayor in November of 1998 and was reelected in 2000 and 2002. Supervisor Smith is the only Mayor in the City of Seaside's history to be elected unopposed.
In 2001 the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce awarded to Supervisor Smith the "Public Official of the Year award", making him the first African-American to receive that recognition. 95 prominent citizens had received the award prior to Smith.
Supervisor Smith's family came to the Monterey Peninsula in or about 1889. His great grandfather, William Niblett, first settled in Pacific Grove, CA. He worked in many jobs. He was employed as a custodian for First National/Crocker Bank and also worked in the canneries. Supervisor Smith's grandfather and grandmother, Johnnie and Geraldine Niblett soon joined their father in Pacific Grove from Texas, with their nine children.
The Niblett family lived in Pacific Grove until 1937 and later moved to what is now called the City of Seaside. Supervisor Smith was born of the union of Robert and Addie Lee Smith in 1945, in Monterey, CA. He has three brothers; Robert Smith, Lamond Welch and Johnnie Welch. All are deceased.
He graduated from Monterey High School in 1964 and attended Monterey Peninsula College, majoring in Data Processing and Accounting. While attending college, he was inducted into the United States Army serving a one year tour in Vietnam. He finished his military service at Fort Carson, Colorado as a Sergeant in the 5th Division Military Police Company.
In 1968 he returned home to Seaside, and continued working in the hospitality industry as the Night Auditor/Night Manager of the Mark Thomas Inn. In 1969 he made a career change and joined the United California Bank as a Loan Officer. In 1970, he again changed his career to begin a 12 1/2 years of service in the auto industry as a Retail Sales Representative, with Wester Volkswagen and Porsche-Audi, achieving numerous awards for Salesman-of-the-Month. He also earned distinguished membership in the Volkswagen Sales Guild of America.
In 1971 Supervisor Smith married Byrl Anderson, a union which has lasted to this day.
Smith began his career with the California Department of Corrections in November 1982 at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad, CA as a Correctional Officer. In 1987, he was promoted to Correctional Sergeant, and 1989 he was promoted to Correctional Lieutenant.
Later, he was appointed Community Resources Manager, where for the past 15 years he has performed liaison between the Soledad prison and the communities throughout Monterey County. During his 22 years with the Department, he has served as Correctional Counselor, Supervising Counselor, and Acting Facility Captain in addition to numerous other special assignments.
Supervisor Smith attends St. Francis Xavier Church and is a member of numerous charitable organizations throughout Monterey County, such as St. Francis Xavier Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 591, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Monterey Peninsula NAACP, LULAC; (Past Board Member); Friends Outside in Monterey County, Monterey County Special Olympics, United Way of the Salinas Valley and Monterey Peninsula, Rape Crisis Center, (Past Member), Monterey Peninsula Jaycees, and Monterey County Crime Prevention Association, to name a few.
Here, indeed, is a life and a man worthy of our recognition at PositiveBlackImage.com. We salute Supervisor Jerry C. Smith of Monterey County, California.
About PositiveBlackImage.com: PositiveBlackImage.com is about creating a venue where African Americans can see positive reflections of themselves as well as providing tools for greater achievement for people of all ages.
PositiveBlackImage.com will accomplish this by: identify and showcase positive images of African Americans for adults and children alike; promoting community prosperity through economic advancement; providing employment options and opportunities; exposing Black-owned businesses to both the African American community as well as corporate America.
The new web site is earnestly seeking participation from the public, asking that they be on the lookout for people such as Jerry Smith who might be profiled on PositiveBlackImage.com. The individual can be a celebrity who can be looked up to be young people, or an everyday person who has made a mark in his or her life. All submissions will be submitted to a special screening committee.