Historical Contributions Experience of Elders

Although Lee W. Smith was fondly remembered by his peers, there are few official records of service to the Movement and his community. Smith served the Movement for 38 years as the Executive Director of the John Avery Boys & Girls Club in Durham, NC.

Mr. Lee Winston Smith, Jr., son of the late John Winston and Lois Moore Smith, was born on December 2, 1917 in Emporia, Kansas. Educated in the Emporia public schools and a graduate of Emporia High School. Smith attended Kansas State Teachers College, lettering in track. He completed his junior and senior years at North Carolina College, renamed North Carolina Central University, where he earned letters in football and basketball, receiving his B.S. degree in 1942.

He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CC) as First Sergeant from 1937 to 1940. During World War II, he served as manager of a Post Exchange at Camp Butner.

Smith served as executive director of John Avery Boys Club, Inc. from 1945 to March 1983. He was a certified Boys Club Worker, charter member of the Boys Clubs Professional Association, past chairman of the BCA (Boys Clubs of America) Southern Region Administrative Conference, past member of the BCA National Board of Directors, past member of the BCA National Committee on Community Service, Intergroup Relations and Program, and Program Planning and Development.

Smith was a member of the BCA National Board of Certification, Vice President and Board of Directors of the Boys Clubs Workers Association, BCA Task Force on Women and Minorities in Boys Clubs and the National Task Force to Determine the Direction of the Boys Clubs Movement in the '80s. He was a member of the BCA Task Force to rewrite the Boys Club Manual of Operations.

Lee was recipient of the BCA Bronze Keystone and Service Bar with three silver stars and the Boys Clubs Professional Association "Distinguished Service Award" for 38 years of devoted service to boys. He was recipient of the "Herman S. Prescott Award" from the Concerned Professional Association of Boys Club Workers, Inc. for his unfaltering devotion to equality, justice, dignity and the human rights of all men, and his demonstrated example and action in improving equality and justice of youth and professionals in the Boys Club Movement.

Smith also served his community through memberships in other organizations:

Durham Youth Board

Durham Recreation Advisory Commission and Citizens Advisory Committee

Volunteer Services Bureau of Durham

Board of Directors of Family Counseling Service

Durham Community Based Alternatives Task Force

Board of Directors of United Way of Durham and Durham County, Incorporated

He was a member of Doric Lodge #28, F. & A.M. where he served as Past Master; was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity for over 54 years and served as a Keeper of Records. In addition, Smith served as Deputy Grand Master of the 14th District of Prince Hall Free & Accepted Masons of North Carolina for 15 years. Finally, Lee was a member of Saint Joseph's A.M.E. Church where he served as a class leader and member of the Senior Steward Board, Finance Committee and Berean Bible Class.

Lee Smith departed this life on Monday, February 26, 1996 in his home, 905 Springdale Drive. He was married to the former Thelma W. Fitzgerald for 53 years.