Smiths honored for dedication to community

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Cliff and Angela Smith of Williamsville were recently presented with an award for their dedication to their community and public service.

The Melvin Brinkley Public Service Award was established by the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission in 2002 to honor the late Melvin Brinkley.

According to Alan Lutes, executive director of the OFRPC, Brinkley was a former chairman of the village of Mill Spring and Wayne County.

“He served as village chairman for nearly 16 years and was known to many as a dedicated public servant,” said Lutes. “The Melvin Brinkley award recognizes Foothills residents who have contributed selflessly to the betterment of the community and consequently strengthen the region due to their actions.”

The Smiths have a long list of accolades and involvement, according to Lutes. The couple both served in elected positions for the City of Williamsville.

Cliff served eight years as alderman and four years as mayor. He’s a former member of the Williamsville Lions Club, continues to help with the annual Labor Day picnic and currently serves as a board member for the Black River Fire Protection District.

During her more than eight-year tenure as mayor, Angela guided the city to the completion of an extensive wastewater treatment plant, acquired an upgraded facility for the volunteer fire department and wrote and received a grant for a pedestrian bridge over Williams Creek.

“One thing that Cliff said after we left that night, because we were both really humbled to receive that award, he mentioned that we got our community activeness gene from his parents, who have both really been involved in the community,” said Angela. “They set that example for us to follow when we were just a young married couples.”

Cliff and Angela were instrumental in starting a nonprofit organization called the Williamsville Area Progress Committee, which was active from 2000 to 2015, Lutes said.

“Many local contributions were made by a large number of volunteers in the group, such as a pavilion at Markham Spring State Park, sidewalks in various places in Williamsville, an impressive playground for the local school and conducted the annual community Christmas festival,” said Lutes.

“Here in Missouri we work for what we get and we work together as a community for it,” said Angela, who wanted to be sure it was understood that the couples achievement was one of shared efforts.

Cliff expressed his gratitude for the award saying, “This is a really nice honor because of the folks that have won this before us — that puts us in good company.”

They worked with others in the community, Angela said.

“We worked ... with the Forest Service. We worked with the school board. We raised a lot of money for that playground equipment, but that came from our community members,” said Angela. “Nobody does this kind of thing alone and we’re very conscious of that.”