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Smyer's family moved to [[Birmingham]] around [[1900]] and operated a dairy farm near the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]]. He attended [[West End Elementary School]] and [[Central High School|Birmingham High School]]. He went on to earn a degree from the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] and served in the army during [[World War I]].
Smyer's family moved to [[Birmingham]] around [[1900]] and operated a dairy farm near the [[Alabama State Fairgrounds]]. He attended [[West End Elementary School]] and [[Central High School|Birmingham High School]]. He went on to earn a degree from the [[University of Alabama School of Law]] and served in the army during [[World War I]].


On returning to Birmingham, Smyer and his brother, [[Shuford Smyer|Shuford]] joined the law firm of his uncles [[Edgar Smyer|Edgar]] and [[Rufus Smyer|Rufus Smyer]], who represented industrial interests. Smyer helped create the [[Alabama Economy League]] in [[1932]] and lobbied the [[Alabama State Legislature]] on behalf of the "[[Big Mules]]". In [[1934]] he was elected to the State House of Representatives, and re-elected in [[1938]], taking over [[Bull Connor|Eugene "Bull" Connor]]'s former seat. A year later he was appointed general counsel to the board of the Birmingham Realty Company. He was named vice-president of the firm in [[1942]] and president in [[1953]]. In [[1967]] his son, [[Sidney Smyer, Jr|Sidney, Jr]] succeeded him as president and he became chairman of the board.
On returning to Birmingham, Smyer and his brother, [[Shuford Smyer|Shuford]] joined the law firm of his uncles [[Edgar Smyer|Edgar]] and [[Rufus Smyer|Rufus Smyer]], who represented industrial interests. Smyer helped create the [[Alabama Economy League]] in [[1932]] and lobbied the [[Alabama State Legislature]] on behalf of the "[[Big Mules]]". In [[1934]] he was elected to the State House of Representatives, and re-elected in [[1938]], taking over [[Bull Connor|Eugene "Bull" Connor]]'s former seat. He and Connor were both active in the walkout from the 1948 Democratic National Convention over segregation issues and the formation of the [[States Rights Party]] (Dixiecrats), which held their [[1948 States Rights Party convention|convention]] that year in Birmingham's [[Boutwell Auditorium|Municipal Auditorium]], nominating Strom Thurmond for President.
 
In [[1939]] Smyer was appointed general counsel to the board of the Birmingham Realty Company. He was named vice-president of the firm in [[1942]] and president in [[1953]]. In [[1967]] his son, [[Sidney Smyer, Jr|Sidney, Jr]] succeeded him as president and he became chairman of the board.


During Smyer's 14 year term as president of Birmingham Realty, he increased gross rental incomes from $343,000 to $1,243,000 and constructed 40 new commercial buildings, establishing himself as a prime force in the postwar development of Birmingham's downtown. He was a charter member of the [[Jefferson County Planning Commission]] when it was formed in [[1947]] and earned the nickname "Mr. Zoning" for his efforts.
During Smyer's 14 year term as president of Birmingham Realty, he increased gross rental incomes from $343,000 to $1,243,000 and constructed 40 new commercial buildings, establishing himself as a prime force in the postwar development of Birmingham's downtown. He was a charter member of the [[Jefferson County Planning Commission]] when it was formed in [[1947]] and earned the nickname "Mr. Zoning" for his efforts.


Smyer was also active in a laymen's association at [[HIghlands United Methodist Church|Highlands Methodist Church]] which actively opposed integrationist voices in the national Methodist denomination. Though interested in preserving [[segregation]], the virulent antics of [[Birmingham City Commission|Birmingham Commissioner of Public Safety]] [[Bull Connor]] forced Smyer to re-evaluate his allegiances. He chaired the [[Senior Citizens Committee]] that negotiated a [[Birmingham Truce|truce]] with leaders of the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] and the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], ending the [[Birmingham Campaign|organized campaign of mass demonstrations]] that became headline news around the world due to Connor's use of [[police dogs and firehouses]] to break up [[Children's crusades|demonstrations by children]] at [[Kelly Ingram Park]]. Smyer assured the press that: "Ninety days after the Supreme Court decisions on the Birmingham city government, eating facilities in the stores will be desegregated on a trial or test basis. Within thirty days any remaining white and colored signs over drinking fountains and restrooms will be removed, and without delay fitting rooms (which always have been private and for the use of one customer at a time) will be desegregated. Employment opportunities for Negroes will be upgraded. Within sixty days at least one sales person will be employed in one store."<sup>1.</sup>
Smyer was also active in a laymen's association at [[HIghlands United Methodist Church|Highlands Methodist Church]] which actively opposed integrationist voices in the national Methodist denomination. Though interested in preserving [[segregation]], the virulent antics of [[Birmingham City Commission|Birmingham Commissioner of Public Safety]] [[Bull Connor]] forced Smyer to re-evaluate his allegiances. He was visiting Tokyo, Japan in May [[1961]] when Connor allowed a violent mob to attack the [[Freedom Riders]] at the [[Birmingham Trailways Station]]. Representing Birmingham in front of worldwide delegates to [[Rotary International]], Smyer acknowledged that "These racial incidents have given us a black eye we'll be a long time trying to forget."<sup>1.</sup>
 
Smyer led a newly-formed [[Senior Citizens Committee]] that cautiously discussed the issue of political change in Birmingham, including some concessions to the most glaring injustices of segregation. The group represented an unprecedented split among the "Big Mules" loyal to the [[Tennessee Coal and Iron Company]] and those preparing Birmingham for a more diversified economy. Smyer supported the [[Young Men's Business Club]] in its efforts to replace the [[Birmingham City Commission]] with a Mayor-Council form of government. The Commission's decision in late 1961 to close [[List of Birmingham parks|city parks]] rather than comply with Federal orders to integrate them galvanized moderates in favor of change. Smyer's committee met quietly with more moderate Black leaders such as [[A. G. Gaston]], [[John Drew]], [[Arthur Shores]] and [[Lucius Pitts]].
 
As chair of the Committee, Smyer negotiated a [[Birmingham Truce|truce]] with leaders of the [[Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights]] and the [[Southern Christian Leadership Conference]], ending the [[Birmingham Campaign|organized campaign of mass demonstrations]] that became headline news around the world due to Connor's use of [[police dogs and firehouses]] to break up [[Children's crusades|demonstrations by children]] at [[Kelly Ingram Park]]. Smyer assured the press that: "Ninety days after the Supreme Court decisions on the Birmingham city government, eating facilities in the stores will be desegregated on a trial or test basis. Within thirty days any remaining white and colored signs over drinking fountains and restrooms will be removed, and without delay fitting rooms (which always have been private and for the use of one customer at a time) will be desegregated. Employment opportunities for Negroes will be upgraded. Within sixty days at least one sales person will be employed in one store."<sup>2.</sup>


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==Notes==
==Notes==
<small># Minor-1963</small>
<small>
# ''Wall Street Journal'', qtd. in Eskew-1997
# Minor-1963
</small>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 09:30, 14 May 2012

Sidney Smyer

Sidney William Smyer (born May 30, 1897 in Cherokee County; died August 1985) was an attorney, state legislator, president of the Birmingham Realty Company and chairman of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce in 1963. That Spring he took responsibility for negotiating on behalf of the Senior Citizens Committee to forge the Birmingham Truce that culminated mass Civil Rights demonstrations of the Birmingham Campaign.

Smyer's family moved to Birmingham around 1900 and operated a dairy farm near the Alabama State Fairgrounds. He attended West End Elementary School and Birmingham High School. He went on to earn a degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and served in the army during World War I.

On returning to Birmingham, Smyer and his brother, Shuford joined the law firm of his uncles Edgar and Rufus Smyer, who represented industrial interests. Smyer helped create the Alabama Economy League in 1932 and lobbied the Alabama State Legislature on behalf of the "Big Mules". In 1934 he was elected to the State House of Representatives, and re-elected in 1938, taking over Eugene "Bull" Connor's former seat. He and Connor were both active in the walkout from the 1948 Democratic National Convention over segregation issues and the formation of the States Rights Party (Dixiecrats), which held their convention that year in Birmingham's Municipal Auditorium, nominating Strom Thurmond for President.

In 1939 Smyer was appointed general counsel to the board of the Birmingham Realty Company. He was named vice-president of the firm in 1942 and president in 1953. In 1967 his son, Sidney, Jr succeeded him as president and he became chairman of the board.

During Smyer's 14 year term as president of Birmingham Realty, he increased gross rental incomes from $343,000 to $1,243,000 and constructed 40 new commercial buildings, establishing himself as a prime force in the postwar development of Birmingham's downtown. He was a charter member of the Jefferson County Planning Commission when it was formed in 1947 and earned the nickname "Mr. Zoning" for his efforts.

Smyer was also active in a laymen's association at Highlands Methodist Church which actively opposed integrationist voices in the national Methodist denomination. Though interested in preserving segregation, the virulent antics of Birmingham Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor forced Smyer to re-evaluate his allegiances. He was visiting Tokyo, Japan in May 1961 when Connor allowed a violent mob to attack the Freedom Riders at the Birmingham Trailways Station. Representing Birmingham in front of worldwide delegates to Rotary International, Smyer acknowledged that "These racial incidents have given us a black eye we'll be a long time trying to forget."1.

Smyer led a newly-formed Senior Citizens Committee that cautiously discussed the issue of political change in Birmingham, including some concessions to the most glaring injustices of segregation. The group represented an unprecedented split among the "Big Mules" loyal to the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company and those preparing Birmingham for a more diversified economy. Smyer supported the Young Men's Business Club in its efforts to replace the Birmingham City Commission with a Mayor-Council form of government. The Commission's decision in late 1961 to close city parks rather than comply with Federal orders to integrate them galvanized moderates in favor of change. Smyer's committee met quietly with more moderate Black leaders such as A. G. Gaston, John Drew, Arthur Shores and Lucius Pitts.

As chair of the Committee, Smyer negotiated a truce with leaders of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, ending the organized campaign of mass demonstrations that became headline news around the world due to Connor's use of police dogs and firehouses to break up demonstrations by children at Kelly Ingram Park. Smyer assured the press that: "Ninety days after the Supreme Court decisions on the Birmingham city government, eating facilities in the stores will be desegregated on a trial or test basis. Within thirty days any remaining white and colored signs over drinking fountains and restrooms will be removed, and without delay fitting rooms (which always have been private and for the use of one customer at a time) will be desegregated. Employment opportunities for Negroes will be upgraded. Within sixty days at least one sales person will be employed in one store."2.

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Notes

  1. Wall Street Journal, qtd. in Eskew-1997
  2. Minor-1963

References

  • Spence, Steve (2011) "Cultural Globalization and the US Civil Rights Movement." Public Culture, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 551-72
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