LEE STANLEY SMITH, a prominent attorney and South Dallas native, will be the guest speaker at SALEM Institutional Baptist Church’s annual Alumni Day on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 11am. He will share his journey from 1960’s South Dallas to Harvard University and beyond.
Smith initiated his academic journey in South Dallas, attending the historically all-black Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School. He then continued his education at James Madison High School, with the expectation of receiving his diploma from Madison. However, the landmark Brown v Board of Education ruling in 1964 presented Smith with the opportunity to transfer and desegregate the historically all-white St. Mark’s School of Texas.
Each year, SIBC’s Alumni Day showcases men and women whose education began in South Dallas communities like Wheatley Place, Mill City, Queen City and more. SIBC will acknowledges additional Madison and St Mark’s alumni who also broke through the 1964 door of desegregation.
“At Salem, we strongly feel these stories must be told and kept alive as a key part of American history,” shared Lucy Cain, Salem’s Alumni Day chairwoman.
About Salem Institutional Baptist Church (SIBC)
SIBC, founded over 135 years ago, is one of the oldest historically black American congregations in Dallas. Now under the pastorate of Rev Todd Atkins, SIBC proudly serves South Dallas, by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, while advocating economic development and cultural wellbeing.
This is a free event, open to the general public. Questions and who to contact for press coverage on the event day, please reach out to either of the above listed contacts.
Lee Stanley Smith is a South Dallas native who began his formal education at Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School, a historically all-black school in South Dallas. Smith continued his education at James Madison High School, with every expectation of completing his diploma there; however, the landmark 1964 Brown v Board of Education ruling came down, before he began his senior year. This decision created the opening for Smith to transfer into and integrate, the then historically all-white, St Mark’s of Texas.
While at Madison, Smith proved himself a leader and gifted student. He served as NHS President, ROTC Drill member, Alpha Phi Alpha Scholastic Honoree, Trojan Honoree, NASA and US Air Force Award winner, and he was an Eagle Scout with the Order of the Arrow.
Smith was the first Black student to desegregate Dallas’ St Mark’s School of Texas. After graduating from St Mark’s in 1965, Smith earned a Baccalaureate degree at Harvard University (1969) and then onto law school at the University of Washington (1974) earning his Juris Doctor law degree.
Smith returned to Texas to become the Chief Regional Civil Rights Attorney for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he was responsible for enforcement of Federal civil rights laws in Texas and the surrounding states.
Smith also led the legal case against UT and Texas A&M to strike down the then Texas Constitutional provision of “separate but equal”. This led to codifying that a share of the multibillion-dollar Permanent University Fund be perpetually allocated to the historically Black college and university (HBCU) – Prairie View A&M University. Smith also authored several studies on the History of Black Colleges in Texas.
Additional accomplishment highlights: Harvard Yearbook first Black Managing Editor; spearheaded litigation against Washington State Bar Association leading to the number of practicing Black lawyers exponentially increasing in Washington State; Photographer and Special Assistant for the National Urban League in NYC; Attorney at Law in Seattle; Attorney for UT System in Austin; Special Assistant to the Director of the Washington State Department of Wildlife; Associate VP for Business Affairs and Associate VP for Legal Affairs – UT Austin with extensive expertise in IT systems, security and forensics; Business Consultant, Apogee Telecomm in Austin; TravelerSmith cultural photographer at his business and consulting firm.
Smith has recently been honored by St. Marks Preparatory School of Dallas by naming him as the first distinguished alumnus – and using his name as the ongoing name of this prestigious award: The “St Mark’s School of Texas Lee S. Smith ’65 Courage and Honor Distinguished Alumni Award.”
This award recognizes members of the St Mark’s community, who demonstrate courage, honor, perseverance and justice in the community, who have made an indelible difference through using their voice and actions to better this world.
Naming this new Alumni Award in his honor, Lee Stanley Smith’s contributions will forever be preserved in St Mark’s History. Honoring the legacy of St Mark’s first Black graduate: Lee Stanley Smith.
