Calvin Smyre misses opening day of General Assembly with health concerns

The dean of the Georgia General Assembly spent Monday’s opening day of the legislative session in a Columbus hospital room and not the state capitol in Atlanta.

Rep. Calvin Smyre, a Columbus Democrat who is starting his 44th year in the Georgia House, was admitted to Midtown Medical Center on Sunday, said longtime friend and associate Karl Douglass.

Smyre said he began having shortness of breath Friday after returning to Columbus on Thursday night after a full day of Capitol meetings in Atlanta.

The 70-year-old lawmaker and retired bank executive called his personal physician, Dr. William Roundtree, who recommended he go to the emergency room.

“After several tests and a body scan I was admitted to Columbus Regional Midtown Hospital,” Smyre said in an email response. “The diagnosis is pulmonary embolism (Blood clot in both lungs).

“My Doctors (pulmonary specialist, cardiologist and my personal physician) say the prognosis is good in that it was recognized early. I am resting and feeling much better. Should be released on Wednesday or Thursday to go home."

When the General Assembly started Monday morning, Speaker David Ralston told the lawmakers that Smyre was having some health issues.

“I talked with him late yesterday,” Ralston said from his House podium at the opening of the session. “He is missing the first opening day in 44 years. Please keep him in your prayers, he is down in Columbus. He is a great great leader in this state and a dear friend of mine.”

Legislative correspondent Maggie Lee contributed to this report.

This story was originally published January 8, 2018 at 11:31 AM with the headline "Calvin Smyre misses opening day of General Assembly with health concerns."