Though Gerald Smith flies head and shoulders above his competitors in theinvestment management industry, this nationally recognized entrepreneurial giant remains firmly grounded in his community.
Even with his place in the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame secure, and countless awards and honors already bestowed, Smith still describes himself as a proud product of Jack Yates High School whose grandmother ran a soda shop not too far from the school. Add to this the pride and commitment Smith continues to show to his alma mater, Texas Southern, and it is no stretch of the imagination to say that Smith's heart has always been in Third Ward, though his business interests and impact are global.
It was here, at Texas Southern, that Smith enjoyed his collegiate experience—one that prepared him for the whirlwind of business success he continues to enjoy. Still, personal success is not all that defines Smith—not even close. It is the love he shares with his wife, Anita, for philanthropy. And with the list of recipients of the Smith's generosity ever-growing, Texas Southern has remained a consistent beneficiary.
Most recently, the Smiths' impact upon Texas Southern has come in the form of the Gerald and Anita Smith Endowed Scholarship— established with a $125,000 gift. The gift initiates TSU's Endowed Scholarship Matching Fund. With two sons in college, the Smiths know full well the rising costs of a college education. Their business success, however, has afforded them a life of which many only dream; and they are willing to help make the dreams of others come true.
Smith, chairman and chief executive officer of Smith, Graham & Company, a fixed income investment management firm with offices in Houston and New York City, has shown an unflinching dedication to TSU and his mantra to give back.
The finance mogul and chair of the TSU Foundation received his BBA in Finance from TSU's Jesse H. Jones School of Business and has directed his giving to that school, as well as to TSU athletics, general scholarships, and countless other areas and initiatives, all with the desire to improve the educational outcomes of TSU students. And all he asks for in return is that students return the favor.
"A TSU scholarship is an investment in a student's future. I believe the greatest return on that investment a student can make is to use it as a catalyst to do well and to do good," Smith says. "The highest form of thanks successful graduates who received TSU scholarships can offer to the University is to give back to the University when they are able. That act of gratitude not only honors the gift of support they received, but gives them an opportunity to make a positive impact on the future of TSU and the students it serves."