It was the vision of the late John Frank Smith, Sr. to erect ‘The Resource Center’ on the 10.3 acres property of the Shawtown High School Alumni Association. He worked tireless to get funding for the project, influencing alums to support the effort. Even during his illness, he never tired of efforts to complete the project. His passing on September 9, 2022 was unexpected and a tremendous loss to the alumni.
Frank, as he has been known since grade school, was a graduate of Shawtown High School; he attended Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC and completed the requirements for his Bachelor of Science Degree; he received his Masters of Science Degree from Indiana State University, Terra Haute, IN. He completed additional professional educational programs at the University of Virginia, Michigan State University, Harvard University, Yale, and Columbia University where he completed the requirements for his Education Specialist Degree in School Administration and Organizational Management. Some of his professional experiences were teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, coordinator, executive director, and assistant superintendent of schools. He had an extensive career with the Norfolk Public School in Virginia. He was a member of the Elks Lodge achieving the position of Exalted Ruler of the Berkley Elks Lodge in Norfolk, VA. His final six years of employment was as superintendent of the Bertie County School System in North Carolina.
He was proud of his membership in the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, ordainment as a deacon, and position as President of the Shawtown High School Alumni Association.