Gerald B. Smith, CEO of Smith, Graham & Company Investment Advisors, to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Texas Southern University
Gerald B. Smith, CEO of Smith, Graham & Company Investment Advisors, will receive
an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater Texas Southern University (TSU) at its Winter
Commencement at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 15. The Ceremony will take place in the
Health and Physical Education Arena located on TSU’s campus.
A graduate of Texas Southern University with a BBA in Finance, Mr. Smith has a long history of giving back to the community through his service with numerous civic and community organizations. Mr. Smith currently serves as Chair of the Texas Southern University Foundation; and, Executive Committee Member of the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP) Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Greater Houston Partnership Board of Directors where he serves as Chairman of the Transportation Policy Advisory Committee. Former affiliations included the Museum of Fine Arts – Houston, Board of Trustees; the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO) Vice Chair of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Executive Committee, and Founding Chairman of the Houston Museum of African American Culture.
Smith has more than 35 years of experience in the investment industry. Prior to launching
Smith Graham in 1990, he served as Senior Vice President and Director of Fixed Income
for Underwood Neuhaus & Company. His past executive experience also includes First
Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing & Sales for Westcap Corporation and
Vice President of Dillon Read & Co., New York. A founding member of the New York Futures
Exchange, Mr. Smith worked with institutional investors to hedge their interest rate
risk by using financial futures.
In addition to his company and community work, Mr. Smith dedicates time to corporate
service, having sat on the boards of Cooper Industries plc, Pennzoil-Quaker State,
Rorento Fund, N.V., Rotterdam, Netherlands, and First Interstate Bank of Texas. He
is a member of the Board of Trustees and chair of the Investment Oversight Committee
for The Charles Schwab Family of Funds and Board of Directors of New York Life Insurance
Company, Eaton Corporation plc, ONEOK Inc. and ONEOK Partners MLP. He is also a director
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch.
He has been inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame for achievements
in the field of Business. He has been consistently recognized by Black Enterprise
as one of the Most Influential Blacks on Wall Street. The National Association of
Securities Professionals awarded him the Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. Award for the
financial service professional that best exemplifies entrepreneurial achievement,
community service and high moral standards. Some of his many other honors include:
United Way Volunteer of the Year, the National Black MBA’s Leadership Empowerment
Award, YMCA Annual Tribute to Leadership Award, and the Community Partner’s “Father
of the Year” Award.
