Fitzgerald Club Has First DGND

In a meeting of Past District Governors held on January 29, Gary Smith was selected as the nominee serve as the District Governor for the 2013 - 2014 Rotary International year.

Bio

Gary was born and reared in Fitzgerald, Georgia where he continues to reside with his wife Sue.

He was graduated from Fitzgerald High School in 1967, Middle Georgia College in 1969, and the University of Georgia in 1971 where he attained a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in Management.  Following graduation he began his career in public service with the Ben Hill County Department of Family and Children Services as a caseworker. Gary became Director of the agency in 1986 and worked in that capacity until his retirement in 2003 serving the last 2 years of employment as Director of the Ben Hill and Irwin County agencies.

Gary’s community activities have included other civic organizations in the past. He has served on the board of Communities in Schools as member and chair and the Fitzgerald Downtown Development Authority as member and chair.  He is currently serving his fourth four-year term as an elected member of the Ben Hill County Board of Education where he serves as its chairman.

Both Gary and Sue are active in the community being founding members of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Historic Commission and founding members of Fellowship Baptist Church where they each hold various leadership roles and are members of the choir.  They are also active in the local Habitat for Humanity chapter.

Gary became involved in the Rotary Club of Fitzgerald in 1996, served on the board of directors for two years, and served as club president in 2005 – 2006.  He currently serves as orientation chair, club web-master and as project director for the club’s End Meningitis Now campaign.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow Sustaining Member, a Will Watt Fellow Sustaining Member, Multiple Paul Harris Fellow (3), and Benefactor.  He has honored Sue and their oldest son with Paul Harris Fellowships.

Gary has served District 6920 as an Assistant Governor for the years 2008 – 2011 and District Chair for Benefactor and Bequest Society for 2010 - 2011.  He is currently serving as the District Foundation Transformation Chair and as the District Governor’s Special Representative in the chartering of a Rotary Club in Adel, Georgia.

Gary enjoys the Arts, listening to music, high school sports, University of Georgia Football, do-it-yourself projects, classic cars, and golf.

Gary and Sue celebrated their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary last June and have a son and daughter who are married, two grandchildren, and a son who is a Sophomore at Valdosta State University.