Alexander Smith

Profession:

• City Commissioner; Former Educator

Education:

• Graduate of Orange County Public Schools
• Graduate of Florida A & M University receiving a BS degree in Agricultural Education with a minor in Horticultural Science
• Graduate of Apopka’s Citizens Police Academy
• Certified Horticultural Professional by the State of Florida
• Pursuing a Master’s Degree from The Reformed Theological Seminary

Community Involvement & Organizations:

• One of the original organizers and founding Board member for the Billie Dean Community Gardens in Apopka.
• Keynote Speaker and served as Honorary Co-Chair for the 31^st State NAACP Annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet. 
• Member of the Orange County NAACP, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Alpha Tau Alpha Agricultural Education Fraternity.  
• One of the finalists for the Humanitarian Award for the Black History Committee of Orange County in 2009. 
• In 2013 he was selected as the Humanitarian of the Year by the South Apopka Ministerial Alliance. 
• Member of Orange County Branch of Democratic Black Caucus. 
• Served in several capacities in the Masonic Organization, starting from the bottom upward, being a good follower, he is the past General Grand Secretary and past 1^st Vice President for the General Grand Masonic Congress of the USA and past Most Worshipful Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge A.F. & A. M. of the state of Florida and is an Honorary Grand Master of The Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Florida. 
• Founder and Executive Director of the Prince Hall Scholarship and Economic Development Foundation.
• One of the founders and charter members of the Masonic Descendants of the Pyramids of Florida.
• Past President of the General Grand Masonic Congress A.F. & A.M. of the USA where he served for 6 years. 
• Currently the National Site Planner for The General Grand Masonic Congress A.F. & A.M. of the USA.
• One of the organizers of The Inter-Fraternal Masonic Relations Council of Congress Presidents where he serves as Vice President.
• Member of the South Apopka Ministerial Alliance where he serves as Treasurer and a Member of the African American Council of Christian Clergy (AACCC). 

Biographical Information:

Alexander H. Smith was born in Thomasville, GA, and the oldest of five siblings. Raised and educated there until the age of ten by his grandparents. While visiting his parents in Florida, his feet got stuck in the sand and has been here since 1965. 

Alexander is a retiree from Orange County Public Schools where he taught for 39 years and one year in Volusia County. During his educational career, He was selected by his peers as one of the five finalists for teacher of the year at Dr. Phillips High School for four years during his 29 year tenure; nominated by his students for Who’s Who among Agricultural Educators; held the position of President of the Orange County Association of Agricultural Educators for twenty-one years and is the Past President of the Florida Association of Agricultural Educators; has served on the Advisory Board for the Orange County Agricultural Extension Service; served two terms on the Orange County Board of County Commissioners Agricultural Advisory Board as Vice Chairman; served on numerous committees and advisory boards on the local, state, and national levels. Also, he is the Past President of the Florida FFA Board of Directors, where he was the only minority on the board. He has been instrumental in recruiting minorities into his field of study by involving himself and his students alike in National publications and National videos designed to recruit minorities. He was a member of the first Agriscience Leadership Team for the state of Florida and is a member of all professional organizations for Agricultural Education on the local, state and national level. He served on the state committee for writing exit exams for the state of Florida for Agricultural Education. He is often called upon to be one of the presenters for New Agricultural Education Teachers in the state. On June 14, 2022 Commissioner Smith was inducted into the Florida FFA Hall of Fame.

Not only was he an educator, but he is also a child of God, most importantly. Having accepted the calling into the Ministry, he is the Associate Pastor of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Apopka, Florida, where the Rev. Dr. H.L. Dericho is the pastor. He is also a member of the South Apopka Ministerial Alliance where he serves as Treasurer and a Member of the African American Council of Christian Clergy (AACCC).

He is married to Linda C. Smith and the father of five: Kenya, Dante’, Donnell, Deidra, and William; a proud grandfather of thirteen; Jah-nii, DJ, Deshantae’, Demiya, Trajan, Dadrien, Donovan, Amarion, Dillon, Dejuan, Keoni, Jayven, and Nevaeh. The surrogate father to two nephews and a niece: Archie III, Adrain and Tony.