Thanks for a Night to Remember!

ELMER SMITH RETIREMENT PARTY PLANNING COMMITTEE

ASHLEY ARNOLD CHERYL SMITH ARNOLD MELANIE BURNEY MICHAEL DAYS ANGELA DODSON SARAH J. GLOVER ANNETTE JOHN-HALL MARY ANN SMITH MARIE YOUNG, M.D.

Retirement Celebration

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011

THE SHERATON DOWNTOWN 201 N. 17TH STREET PHILADELPHIA
DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR MR. ELMERS SMITHS RETIREMENT CELEBRATION-11/11/11BY INDIA JACKSON

ELMER SMITH
His journalism career began in Philadelphia nearly four decades ago with the Evening Bulletin, where he worked as a City Hall reporter covering the Green and Rizzo administrations and City Council until the Bulletin ceased publication in 1982. Smith was a featured columnist for eight years for the Daily News opinion pages. He was appointed to the Daily News Editorial Board eighteen years ago. For the last nine years, he was a featured columnist in the front sections of the paper and has continued on the editorial board. Smith has won numerous writing and civic awards including the coveted Nat Fleisher award for lifetime achievement from the Boxing Writers Association of America, three firstplace column writing awards from the Keystone Press Association, and an American Red Cross public service award for columns he filed from locations in Haiti and Somalia about the relief efforts in those hard-hit areas. Most recently, Smith was named first-place winner in the columnist category for the prestigious National Headliners Award and was recognized in 1996 among the first-ever recipients of the WDAS radio Claim Your Culture award. He is a multiple winner of the local chapter of Sigma Delta Chi Journalism organizations journalist of the year award. In 2007, Smith was named a Trailblazer by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. He is a founding member of the chapter and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. Smith is a product of the Philadelphia public school system and distinguished alumni of the Temple University School of journalism. He served for 28 years as an adjunct professor of journalism at Temple. He was the host of The Exchange a daily radio talk show on WHAT-AM radio until the station closed four years ago. He is involved with several youth-outreach programs, including sessions with his adopted class at the Reynolds Elementary School in North Philadelphia, as a reader for pre-school and kindergarten students in Philadelphia public schools, in mentoring efforts in the industry and with the Philadelphia Futures Sponsor a Scholar program. He is a member of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Burlington, New Jersey, where he also serves on the Board of Trustees and the Senior Choir. Smith is married to the former Mary Ann Green. They have one daughter, Cheryl, and a son-in-law, Lt. Col. Aric Arnold. The Smiths have two granddaughters, Ashley, and Aaliyah.

For the Record.

Elmer, you're a gentleman, a scholar, one hell of writer and a cherished friend and colleague. -Betty Winston Baye

Let the Good Times Roll..

You've earned the respect of kings and the admiration of us regular folk. -Neal Scarbrough

A Word of Thanks
The Friends of Elmer Smith extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who helped make this retirement celebration a tremendous success. Thank you for your presence. Tonight would not have been the same without you! A special thanks to:
Jeffrey G. Barnes Bobbie Booker Brandywine Workshop John Duchneskie Allan Edmunds Arthur Fennell Bill Foster Mannwell Glenn Sarah J. Glover Thomas Holmes Sharon L. Hopson Patty Jackson Ron Moffitt Tom Pierson Larry Platt Sheraton Staff Jon Snyder Signe Wilkinson

After all these years of hashing it out with you on the editorial board, I had no idea we were arguing with SAINT Elmer! Totally explains the halo. Going to miss you. -Signe Wilkinson You've been an inspiration and mentor to so many journalists. But more importantly, you've always been a first-class person willing to share your knowledge and advice. -Clifton Brown You are always my treasured friend even as both our lives change. Richard Aregood

***************************************************** About the Brandywine Workshop: Founded in 1972, Philadelphia-based Brandywine Workshop is a nonprofit institution committed to cultural diversity in the creation, practice and appreciation of the fine arts and the promotion of printmaking as a fine art form. Brandywine programs provide established, world class artists with support, and emerging artists with specialized training and services in printmaking An advocate to make art accessible to all members of society, Elmer was so impressed with the Brandywine mission after writing a column about the group that he joined the organization. He current serves as President of the Board of Directors.

How'd you stay so awake, Elmer, so vital, so undiminished, so young, so damn long? - Rick Nichols

Program
Welcome- Annette John-Hall, Mistress of Ceremony Tribute to Veterans - Lt. Col. Aric Arnold, U. S. Army Brandywine Workshop - Allan Edmunds, Exec. Director Musical Selection -Thomasina Johnson James Video Tribute Invocation/Blessing of Food Rev. Lula Custis
Former Pastor of Mt. Zion AME Church Swedesboro, NJ

MENU
Fall Salad with mixed greens, diced apples and pears with walnuts and crumbled gorgonzola with Chefs Fall Dressing Boneless Breast of Chicken with Chef s Autumn Cranberry Stuffing topped with a Champagne Cream Sauce ~ Rosemary Roasted Potatoes ~ Sauted String Beans ~ Rolls and Butter Tiramisu ~ Coffee, Tea, and Lemonade

Chat and Chew Many Aspects of Elmer Smith Bulletin Days - Joe Davidson, Washington Post Boxing Era - Michael Bruton, Philadelphia Tribune Philadelphia Daily News- Michael Days Brandywine Executive. Board - Dr. Marie Young NABJ/PABJ - Sandra Long Weaver Men's Bible Study Group - Eugene Edwards Church Family - Ronald Moffitt, Tabernacle Baptist Church Family - Cheryl Arnold Closing Remarks-Elmer Smith