Posted September 27, 2022
David Smith with fellow Board members Jimmy Gooch, Tony Cozart, Tim Karan, Zelodis Jay, Sue Hinman, and Russ May
David Smith with his wife Denise Smith
Granville County Commissioner David T. Smith received the Regional Star Award at the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments (COG) banquet held on September 22, 2022, at the Warren County Armory Civic Center in Warrenton, NC. Smith, who will retire in December, was recognized for his twelve years of service as a County Commissioner as well as his thirty-seven years of service with the Granville County Sheriff’s Office as Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Detective, Deputy, and Detention Officer.
The Regional Star Award was developed by the Kerr-Tar COG to recognize a long-time public servant that has reached the end of their professional career. Smith became the fifth individual to receive the Regional Star Award after demonstrating a consistent and extraordinary contribution to Granville County and the entire Kerr-Tar Region (Granville, Vance, Warren, Franklin, and Person counties).
Tony W. Cozart, Chair of the Granville County Board of Commissioners, presented the award to Smith and noted the similarities between the Regional Star and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Cozart stated that “the Regional Star Award recognizes profound and dedicated service to the citizens of the Kerr-Tar region.” In addition to his forty-nine years of service as a Granville County employee and Commissioner, Smith has received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2020, National Aging Impact Award from the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging in 2015 and has served on the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Standards Commission since 2019.
In addition to his service on the County Board of Commissioners, Smith also serves on the Audit Review Committee, Board of Equalization and Review, Emergency Services Committee, Granville Health System Board of Trustees, Human Relations Commission, Kerr-Tar COG Board, Oxford Downtown Economic Development Corporation Board, Senior Center Advisory Committee, and the Triangle North Board.
“David Smith’s legacy of service is what makes him truly deserving of this Regional Star Award,” continued Cozart. “Smith’s leaves the Board of Commissioners showing how to live a life of service with quiet dignity to his family, to Granville County, and to the Kerr-Tar Region.”