Hard work and education.

Without those two qualities, Albert Lean John Smith said he wouldn’t be where he is today.

An African-American by heritage, Smith, 83, moved to the city with his wife, Elaine, in April 2014 after decades of community leadership in the Denver area.

A retired teacher, school administrator, coach, community volunteer and Realtor, he said he wants to spread the message that anyone can succeed — no matter what their background.

“An education is key,” he said.

 

A family heritage

At the age of 11, Smith’s great-grandfather, who was born in Virginia, was sold into slavery in Tennessee and was ultimately taken to Texas.

When he was freed in 1866, this great-grandfather purchased 1,000 acres of land, with money he had been allowed to save, and later built a cabin, got married and had seven children.

One of those children, Smith’s grandfather, started a school in 1892 for African-Americans. He also purchased 450 acres of land and got started in volunteer work.

The tradition continued with Smith’s father, who was also an educator, who worked until 72 in the profession. Every one of his six children — including Smith — went to college.

Smith said he knew from the age of 5 or 6 that he would go to college.

He can recall his father taking him to the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas, and then taking him to the Capitol in Austin, Texas.

“‘Which do you choose?’,” he said his father asked.

That was the point he said he knew what direction his life would take.

“What’s striking to me is his great-grandparents were unusually successful, considering the times,” Elaine said. “As you go down the line, there’s a lot of people who have achieved higher education and different kinds of jobs and things like that, which is contrary to the stereotype.”

Smith ultimately worked for 35 years in the education field, serving as a teacher and administrator in various capacities until he retired in 1990.

After his retirement, he served as a real estate broker associate, was on various boards and worked to get schools in the Denver area named for women of color, to name a few accomplishments. He was also known for his work with underachieving schools and bridging the achievement gap.

On Oct. 12, 1994, the U.S. flag was flown over the United States Capitol for Smith in recognition of his outstanding service to Colorado.

He started a monthly newspaper, the Greater Far Northeast Reporter, and served as the managing editor until 2014.

Smith said he learned to give back to the community from his family.

“You can reach Utopia, but you must work,” he said. “That’s what I was taught and what I’ve experienced. Education is the key.”

 

What will the community think?

John and Elaine Smith met in 1964 in Colorado while working for Denver Public Schools. Elaine was attending graduate school to become a social worker and was serving as a playground supervisor, and at the time John worked as a recreation supervisor.

The couple said at the time there were some interracial marriages in Colorado, but not nearly as many as there are today. Some states banned interracial marriages altogether.

In 1966, Elaine said she brought James home to meet her parents in rural Albert Lea.

The couple said there was only one other African-American man living in the community at the time.

“They were mostly concerned with how the community would react,” Elaine said of her parents.

After her parents counseled with a few ministers who supported their decision, her parents became supportive as well. Her grandfather was extremely supportive, they said.

The couple got married in 1968 at the University of Denver, where they had both attended school. This was a year after the Supreme Court banned interracial marriages.

Elaine became a mother with the marriage, as John had four children from a previous marriage.

 

Life in Albert Lea

The Smiths purchased their home at the Village Cooperative in 2006 and used it regularly as a vacation home until April 2014, when they decided to move to Albert Lea permanently.

John has pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease, which fueled the decision to move from mile-high Denver to Albert Lea, which has a lower altitude.

Since Albert Lea was where Elaine was raised and because of the proximity to the Mayo Clinic, they made the move here.

Since the Smiths moved to Albert Lea, they said they have joined United Methodist Church and are enjoying their home at the Village Cooperative.

“I say quite often the world gave us a lemon, but we made lemonade,” John said. “My dad taught me that.”