‘It fills my heart.’ New Columbus Museum exhibition honors Calvin Smyre’s legacy
Retired state Rep. Calvin Smyre’s 50 years of service in the Georgia Legislature and the local community will be featured in a new exhibition at the Columbus Museum until March 1.
The exhibition, entitled ‘The Puzzle of Politics: Calvin Smyre in Service, 1975-2025,’ features photographs, documents, personal reflections and artifacts that explore Smyre’s decades of service and his role in consequential Georgia legislation.
This includes establishing the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and Juneteenth as state holidays, replacing Georgia’s 1950s-era state flag, advancing the construction of the Georgia Dome, helping pass the state’s hate crimes law and overhauling the citizen’s arrest law, according to the museum’s news release.
“Known for his ability to work across party lines, Smyre earned widespread respect from colleagues on both sides of the aisle for his integrity, pragmatism and commitment to public service,” the release says.
A reception for the exhibition, with free admission, will be held at the museum Feb. 19 from 5:30-8 p.m.
Calvin Smyre’s reaction to Columbus Museum exhibition
Work on this exhibition began about a year ago, Smyre told the Ledger-Enquirer, and he found it difficult to talk about himself to help bring it together.
“I’m deeply, deeply indebted to the citizens of Columbus,” he said. “For 40 years, they have allowed me to serve them in the state legislature, and then one year serving at the United Nations and then one year serving on the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board.”
Along with highlighting Smyre’s impact on Muscogee County, like helping bring the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts come to fruition, the exhibition touches on Smyre’s personal passions.
“A lot of people don’t know about my affection for jigsaw puzzles,” Smyre said. “Over the years, I have done jigsaw puzzles, and I started very early in my career.”
Smyre’s father was a crossword puzzle aficionado, he said, and that fueled his own love for puzzles. They were a source of stress relief for Smyre throughout his career.
Some of the jigsaw puzzles Smyre has done are part of the exhibition.
Smyre, who took office in the Georgia House of Representatives in 1975 before retiring in 2022, made history as the longest-serving member of the Georgia Legislature.
In 2024, the intersection of I-185 and Macon Road was named the State Representative Calvin Smyre Interchange, and last year, his official portrait was placed in the state capitol. He is only the seventh African American to receive this distinction, Smyre told the Ledger-Enquirer, with the first being the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1974.
“It fills my heart,” Smyre said, “and it brings tears to my eyes sometimes, how grateful and how thankful I am.”
Smyre considers himself fortunate to “see the flowers” by receiving honors during his lifetime, he said, and he thinks about his parents, family and others who are not here to see it with him.
“I thank so many people for allowing me to serve — especially for the citizens of Columbus,” Smyre said. “That’s a great honor. I’m deeply honored and deeply humbled.”
This story was originally published February 19, 2026 at 6:00 AM.
