Clint Smith, Jr. on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers  embody, "Be the change you want to see in the world."

On Saturday, March 19, 2016, we will continue our series on organ transplants and donations. This weekend, we will hear a powerful story from Clint Smith, Jr., an Attorney and Activist from New Orleans, Louisiana who was recently featured in the New York Times. 

Clint Smith, at home in New Orleans, had a procedure that altered his immune system to allow his body to accept a kidney from an incompatible donor. It “changed my life,” he said.

Photo Credit: William Widmer for The New York Times

Mr. Smith will share his journey about being a transplant recipient not once but twice. He will discuss how being a transplant recipient was life changing. He uses his story to help promote awareness about the importance of donor registries and addressing the stigma in the communities of color about organ donations.

The Smith Family

In 2012, Mr. Smith received his second transplant from a living donor who was a close friend. Hear the circumstances that led to his friend, Judge David Watkins, giving Mr. Smith a second chance at living life to the fullest. We will also hear about the love and support of his family and their belief that "to whom much is given, much is required." Mr. Smith's story will not only educate listeners but inspire you to become more engaged and aware.

This is one interview you will want to listen to again and again!

  Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires, and motivates us to live our BEST life, is heard on 760AM The Gospel in the Middle-TN area, Tune In,  military bases and on Ustream.TV worldwide from 9:00-10:00am CST.

More about Clint Smith, Jr.
 

Mr. Smith being presented an award by his brother, Chief Master Sergent, Jeffery Smith, USAF for his steadfast support of his 30 plus year military career!

Mr. Smith, a 1982 Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Morehouse, Mr. Smith was the President of Morehouse History Club, a Student Council Representative and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. 

After graduating from Morehouse, Mr. Smith attended Tulane University School of Law and graduated in May 1987 with a J.D.. At Tulane, Mr. Smith was the 1987 Merit Award Recipient of the Law League of Louisiana Maurice Hirsch Award, an award that represents the most improved student for the three-year law school curriculum. He was also a member of the Black Law Students Association and President of the Public Interest Law Foundation.

Mr. Smith has had a luscious career in law beginning with an honored appointment as the Judicial Law Clerk for the now deceased civil rights pioneer and Chief Judge of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Revius Ortique, Jr. As a law clerk, Mr. Smith was responsible for researching and preparing recommendations to Judge Ortique on exceptions and contradictory motions set before the court for hearing.
 

After his appointment with Judge Ortique, Jr., Mr. Smith joined the Bryan & Jupiter Law Firm. As an attorney with Bryan & Jupiter, Mr. Smith  practiced litigation in the areas of education/school law, commercial law, worker compensation and tort defense. Mr. Smith achieved partnership while with the firm.
 

After Bryan & Jupiter, Mr. Smith formed the Roby & Smith Law Firm with his Tulane classmate. Roby & Smith enjoyed a successful and full-service legal practice in the areas of litigation and small business practice for three years.

In July 2002, Mr. Smith accepted an opportunity as General Counsel for an emerging publicly traded company. As general counsel, Mr. Smith was responsible for coordinating the legal and human resources needs of the emerging public company. He also assisted in drafting and reviewing contracts, leases, and other legal documents.

Mr. Smith underwent his initial kidney transplant in 2004. His transplant altered and refocused his legal practice in the area of Wills, Successions (Probate) and Estate Planning. After the second transplant in 2012, Mr. Smith has returned to his Estate practice.

Mr. Smith has served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Aviation Board at the New Orleans Airport, Judge Ad Hoc for Juvenile District Court and Judge Pro Tempore for the Orleans Parish Traffic Court.

Mr. Smith is a former Board Member of New Orleans Audubon Commission; New Orleans Soccer Academy (NOSA), Boy Scout of America, Adult Volunteer; Girl Scouts of America, Adult Volunteer and current Board Member of Legacy Foundation (Organ Donor Awareness) and Louisiana Kidney Foundation. Mr. Smith is an active member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Mr. Smith is also a mentor and speaker for the Silverback Society of New Orleans.

Mr. Smith is married to Sheryl Sutton Smith, MD, and has three adult children, Clint III, Jesse and Talmon. Mr. Smith and Sheryl live in New Orleans, LA. 

Photo Credits: Mr. Smith (Facebook) and NYTimes