2014 United Way of Lewis County Woman of Excellence Award Presented to Rev. Alta Smith

Congratulations to Rev. Alta Smith. The recipient of the second annual United Way of Lewis County Women of Excellence Award, presented by Re:Design. Rev. Alta was chosen and recognized for her humanitarian efforts and strong leadership skills in mobilizing women to make lasting community change. She personifies grace, promise and possibility in mobilizing others. She truly is an influential leader, and is inspiring and has proven hard work and dedication that is exemplary. She is a role model for what women can accomplish when we work together. Rev. Alta supports the work of United Way of Lewis County and leads the focus of when the most critical needs of the community are met – a better life for all is created. Rev. Alta has a very strong center, knows for herself what is right. She lives her life according to that center – she would say her faith- and the world is a better place as a result.

She started as a Home Economics Teacher in Tacoma WA. Apparently she was asked to leave her position when she became pregnant. My – how times have changed. She spent a couple of decades fulfilling duties as an officer’s wife in the military. She was an excellent hostess, etc., but she wasn’t particularly enamored with the protocol. On one occasion she went to the welcoming party for a senior officer’s wife, and greeted her with a warm welcome, only to find that it was her going away party! OOPS.

She re-entered the workforce in 1981 as a Special Ed teacher. Got her first Masters during the 1980’s in Education from Portland State University. Worked for the Evergreen School District in Vancouver until leaving for Iliff Seminary. Graduated with her Master in Divinity in 1993.

She served on the Board of Ordained Ministry for much of her career as a minister, helping to guide, coach, mentor and select those going into ministry. She served Bonney Lake United Methodist Church and Centralia United Methodist Church. Served 13 years on the United Way of Lewis County Board of Directors. Was a Volunteer Fire Chaplain, Sunday School Teacher, and currently volunteers for the Community Mediation Center of Lewis County.

This beautiful woman who was born on August 6, 1939, turns 75 today, and lives in Centralia. She loves baseball, travel, family and her husband, not in that order. . . . Married her husband, Snoopy in 1961 in Tacoma, and has two wonderful daughters, Stacy and Kelly, and four grandkids, Chris, Lydia, Gracie and Samantha.