Germanna to award former Stafford supervisor honorary degree

Iconic Stafford County educator and leader Lyle Ray Smith will receive an honorary associate’s degree of humane letters during Germanna Community College's Wednesday, May 14 commencement ceremony, which begins at 7 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Expo Center.

Germanna President David A. Sam will present Smith with the award in recognition of his significant contribution to the progress and development of the college.

He served for a decade as a member of Germanna Local College Board and was part of the board that hired Sam in 2007.

Lyle Ray Smith at his Stafford County home

Smith was principal at Grafton Village Elementary School in Stafford County for over 20 years after beginning his career as an educator in the Caroline County School System, where he was a teacher, administrator and coach.

Among his students at Grafton Village Elementary was Germanna Dean Denise Guest, who said that Smith inspired her to become an educator.

Upon his retirement as an educator, he was elected to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.

He said the current effort to expand Germanna’s presence in the county with a permanent location near Stafford Hospital:  “is very important, very much needed. It’s going to be a real plus. More and more residents need education and training to fill highly skilled jobs that are moving into the county.”