PHOTOS: Calvin Smyre through the years

Politics

PHOTOS: Calvin Smyre through the years

Photos of Georgia Rep. Calvin Smyre who has served 48 years in office.

State Rep. Calvin Smyre, 74, will wrap up 48-years at the Capitol on Monday. Historians say the Columbus Democrat has served more consecutive years in office than any other lawmaker. Here's a look back at Smyre's years in office.

State Rep. Calvin Smyre, who played a roll in getting the statue, the Rev. Bernice King and other members of the King family gathered around the statue Monday. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

President Barack Obama gets a hug from Calvin Smyre, Democratic member of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Prints showing the proposed new Georgia state flag line the desk of House Majority Leader Rep. Larry Walker, D-Perry, left, on the floor of the House in Atlanta as he talks with Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, right, about the bill that would adopt the depicted flag Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001. (AP Photo/Ric Feld

House Minority Caucus Chairman Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus): Smyre, who was first elected when Gerald Ford was president (1974) knows how the General Assembly works and understands political strategy as well as anyone at the Capitol. Is probably the most connected state lawmaker to the national Democratic leadership. He is president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.

12/14/2020 Atlanta, Georgia Congresswoman-elect Nikema Williams (left) and Georgia Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), members of the Georgia Electoral College, talk amongst themselves before casting their ballots in the Georgia Senate Chambers at the Georgia State Capitol building in Atlanta, Monday, December 14, 2020. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

Newly elected speaker David Ralston (right), a Republican from north Georgia, and Rep. Calvin Smyre, the Democratic nominee for the post, exchange greetings during Ralston's official escort into the chamber.

Rep. Calvin Smyre paid tribute to Murphy before the portrait was unveiled.

Zell Miller (left) takes a moment to reminisce with State Rep. Calvin Smyre after the event.

Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, watches the voting board Monday as several Democrat bills were tabled or stalled by House Republicans.

Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus (left), briefly interacts with Falcons owner Arthur Blank.

Minority Leader Bob Irvin, R-Atlanta, from left, Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, Rep. Jimmy Skipper, D-Americus, Rep. LaNett Stanley-Turner, D-Atlanta, and Rep. Jack Connell, D-Augusta, stand up in front of the State House wearing Denver Broncos' hats during the legislative session on Friday, Feb. 5, 1999 in Atlanta. The legislators had to wear the hats as a result of losing a bet with the Colorado legislature regarding the outcome of the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Alan Mothner)

Representative Calvin Smyre acknowledges his last Crossover day as he presents the Georgia Music and Theatre Jobs Recovery Act during Crossover Day in the Georgia General Assembly In Atlanta on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Smyre has been nominated to be U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Bills and resolutions need passage in either the House or the Senate by Crossover Day to be considered by the other chamber for passage this year. (Bob Andres / robert.andres@ajc.com)

Rep Calvin Smyre talks to media while attending the homegoing celebration for Mrs. Evelyn Gibson Lowery held in the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the Morehouse College Campus, Wednesday, October 2, 2013. Lowery was the founder of the S.C.L.C.\WOMEN, Inc., the sister organization of the civil rights organization S.C.L.C; and creator of the annual Drum Major for Justice Awards and the annual Evelyn G. Lowery Civil Rights Heritage Educational Tour. She was married to civil rights activist the Reverend Joseph E. Lowery for close to 70 years. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

Representatives Tyrone Brooks (left) and Calvin Smyre embrace after the Georgia House of Representatives voted in January 2001 to change the Georgia state flag. But a new battle over the flag was actually just beginning.

Hillary Clinton is escorted by Rep. Calvin Smyre, D - Columbus, as she departs from an appearance at the Capitol. Hillary Clinton made a stop at the Capitol after she headlined a get-out-the-vote rally in Atlanta on Friday.

021621 Atlanta: Governor Brian Kemp announces the overhaul of Georgia’s citizen’s arrest statute at the capitol with Rep. Calvin Smyre (right), Dean of the House, looking on Tuesday, Feb 16, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / Curtis.Compton@ajc.com”

Jan. 14, 2016 - Atlanta - U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, who served in the Georgia House in 1993, was introduced by Rep. Calvin Smyre (left), D - Columbus, as a guest speaker, as Speaker of the House David Ralston looks on. Westmoreland, who has announced he is not running for reelection to congress. Activity in the House and Senate was mostly ceremonial today. Deal administration officials (Chief of Staff Chris Riley and Office of Planning and Budget Director Theresa MacCartney) held a briefing on the FY17 budget and members of the Georgia House Democratic Caucus released it's 2016 legislative agenda. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

July 29, 2020 Atlanta - State Rep. Calvin Smyre remarks as Congressman John Lewis lies in state in the Georgia Capitol Rotunda during “Honoring the Life and Legacy of Congressman John Robert Lewis” ceremony on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

State Rep. Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus) shows his emotions. Murphy's family smiled through their tears at stories of long-ago-fought political battles recounted Friday by foes and friends.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a bill legalizing cultivation and sales of medical marijuana oil. Kemp was surrounded by several state legislators as he signed House Bill 324 at the state Capitol on Wednesday, April 17. From left: State Reps. Micah Gravley, David Ralston, Mark Newton and Calvin Smyre. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

State Rep. Calvin Smyre, Dean of the House, presented some questions during the debate of the HB 1425 during a Crossover day at the Georgia State Capitol onTuesday, March 15, 2022. Miguel Martinez for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

040129-ATLANTA-Rep. Calvin Smyre (cq)(D-Columbus), right, stretches to read legislation over Rep. Jimmy Skipper's (cq)(D-Americus) shoulder Thursday afternoon in the House chamber during debate on ammendments to the powerline bill. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

1/22/18 - Atlanta - Rep. Calvin Smyre, D - Columbus, was warmly welcomed back to the House chamber today. Smyre missed the opening days of the session for medical reasons and returned for the first time today. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

020116 ATLANTA: State Rep. Calvin Smyre (cq) brushes up on do's and don'ts and he reads through the Rules Book Wednesday 1/16/02 as the State House of Representatives met at the Capitol. (Kimberly Smith/staff)

110316 Atlanta : Rep. Stacey Abrams, left, (D - Atlanta), and Rep.Calvin Smyre (D - Columbus) confer during Crossover Day at the Capitol in Atlanta on Wednesday, March 11, 2011. Wednesday is the last day for a bill to move from one chamber to the other.
Hyosub Shin hshin@ajc.com

February 26, 2018 - Atlanta, Ga: Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, right, poses for a photograph with musician George Clinton during Legislative day 27 at the Georgia State Capitol Monday, February 26, 2018, in Atlanta. Clinton is the band leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic. PHOTO / JASON GETZ

040401-ATLANTA-House Rules Committee Chairman Calvin Smyre (cq)(D-Columbus) looks over the Senate's debate calendar for Thursday, which contained more than 80 bills, and comments that the bills that were about to be taken up when the Senate adjourned Wednesday were placed well into Thursday's calendar where they are in danger of being cut off again. (BEN GRAY/STAFF) ben gray 404-964-9686

March 4, 2013 - Atlanta, Ga: U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, center, talks with former colleague Rep. Calvin Smyre, D-Columbus, following Sen. Isakson's remarks to the House during Legislative Day 28 Monday morning in Atlanta, Ga., March 4, 2013. Senator Isakson is a former member of the House. He was the Republican Minority Leader of the House in late 1980s. JASON GETZ / JGETZ@AJC.COM

April 1, 2022 Atlanta - Portrait of Rep. Calvin Smyre at the Georgia State Capitol on Friday, April 1, 2022. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com)

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Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

State Rep. Calvin Smyre, 74, will wrap up 48-years at the Capitol on Monday. Historians say the Columbus Democrat has served more consecutive years in office than any other lawmaker. Here's a look back at Smyre's years in office.

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