State Representative Calvin Smyre (D-Columbus), Dean of the Georgia House of Representatives, will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Aflac. Rep. Smyre will be presented with the award at a ceremony on Thursday, September 12, 2019, at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington D.C.

“It is a privilege to be able to join an exceptional list of honorees who have previously received Aflac’s Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Rep. Smyre. “I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the citizens of Columbus, Georgia, as their state legislator for the past 45 years, and it is also an honor to work with other leaders from around the state to continue to make Georgia a wonderful place to call home.”

Rep. Smyre was chosen for this award after a lifetime of achievements in both his public service and professional career. Rep. Smyre received the recognition for being the longest-serving Georgia state representative for 45 years of public service, as well as being one of the most notable members of the Democratic Party. Aflac also recognized his distinguished legislative record, which includes authoring legislation that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a state holiday, co-sponsoring legislation that resulted in the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from Georgia’s state flag and legislation authorizing the building of the Georgia Dome, former home of the Atlanta Falcons.

Previous recipients of Aflac’s annual Lifetime Achievement Award include Hon. Marc Morial, U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop, U.S. Congressman John Lewis, Ms. Lorraine C. Miller, former U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, Attorney Glenda Hatchett, U.S. Congressman James Clyburn, Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery, former U.S. Congressman Charles Rangel, Poet Maya Angelou, former U.S. Ambassador Andrew Young, Hon. Ernest Green, Mr. Lonnie Bunch, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee Hank Aaron and Mr. Wade Henderson.

Headquartered in Columbus, Aflac is a Fortune 500 company providing financial protection to more than 50 million people worldwide.