By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | April 3, 2025

The longest-serving member of the Georgia House of Representatives, Calvin Smyre, received a lasting tribute to his decades of public service on Thursday, as Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) dedicated a new education building in his name.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Calvin Smyre Education Conference Center (CSECC) was led by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. The event marked a highlight in MSM’s 50th anniversary celebration at the Georgia State Capitol and symbolized the institution’s ongoing commitment to health equity and diversity.

Smyre, a former state representative elected in 1974 and a key figure in Georgia politics, has long championed MSM since its inception. In his remarks, he recalled helping secure the institution’s initial $1 million in state funding, emphasizing the power of partnerships between government and education.

“This building is a permanent reminder of what vision, leadership, and dedication can achieve,” said Smyre, who also serves as Trustee Emeritus for the medical school and sits on several philanthropic and educational boards, including the Fort Valley State College Foundation and Piedmont HealthCare in Columbus.

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and CEO of MSM, served as emcee for the celebration. “Health equity is not a political term,” she said. “It’s about giving people what they need, when they need it, and in the amount they need to reach their best health outcomes.”

The CSECC, located on MSM’s campus at 720 Westview Drive SW, features an auditorium, conference and event rooms, study areas, and state-of-the-art technology to support the school’s growing academic and community initiatives. The building is designed to be multifunctional, with spaces that can transition from lecture halls to fine dining areas and networking hubs.

Arthur R. Collins, Chairman of MSM’s Board of Trustees, reflected on Smyre’s legacy: “We are not just honoring a legacy, we are not just honoring a life, we are not just honoring his spirit, —we are investing in what comes next.”

The day’s events were a part of MSM’s broader 50th anniversary celebration. Founded to diversify Georgia’s healthcare workforce, MSM remains one of the nation’s only historically Black medical schools. Since becoming independent in 1981, the school has graduated over 3,300 students, nearly 60% of whom continue to serve in Georgia.

With the support of lawmakers like Smyre, the school plans to expand its graduating class to 225 students in the coming years. Morehouse School of Medicine Dean Joseph Tyndall and several state legislators also praised MSM’s enduring impact during the ceremony.

As the nation debates diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, MSM leaders say the school’s mission remains unwavering. “Trust is the foundation of the patient-provider relationship,” said Montgomery Rice. “And diversity in healthcare strengthens that trust.”

For Calvin Smyre, the new center stands not only as a personal honor but as a beacon for future generations. His life’s work—from the Georgia House floor to the boardrooms of educational institutions—continues to shape Georgia’s legacy of leadership, service, and social justice.

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