A mural of Georgia Rep. Calvin Smyre will be placed in the hallway of the Georgia Capitol. Smyre, pictured at left of his portrait, is retiring after nearly 50 years in the state legislature and has been nominated to serve as U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic. 

ATLANTA — After nearly 50 years in the Georgia legislature, Columbus Rep. Calvin Smyre is now headed to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republican. 

President Joe Biden nominated Smyre to the role in September and his nomination now awaits confirmation from Congress.

Smyre bid his farewell on the House floor Monday during the last day of Georgia’s 2022 legislative session. He was lauded and acknowledged last week on the Senate floor.

According to House staff, Smyre is the longest serving member of the Georgia General Assembly and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974 as its youngest member at 27 years of age.

“How can you measure a 48 year career in the Georgia House? Is it by the number of bills you introduce or pass? Is it by the positions you hold?” said Smyre in his farewell speech. “I don’t think so. You measure your career by how you honor this institution. I’ve always paid honor to the Georgia House of Representatives… and I shall always.”

According to House staff, Smyre is the longest serving member of the Georgia General Assembly and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1974 as its youngest member at 27 years of age.

As a legislative veteran and the Dean of the House, he serves on the most important committees of the House, including the House Appropriations and Rules committees.

Rep. Smyre has a distinguished legislative record, which includes authoring the legislation making Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday a state holiday and legislation creating the historic Georgia Dome, home of the Atlanta Falcons.

He was also the co-sponsor of the historic Georgia Hate Crimes Act and legislation creating a new Georgia State Flag, according to the House of Representatives press release. 

“Over the course of the nearly half a century working under this Gold Dome, you have broken barriers both witnessed and made Georgia history,” said Gov. Brian Kemp during a visit to the House floor Monday. “You have been the glue to holds this place together. You are a man of character and I congratulate you on a life and career well spent serving others.”