Jack H. Smith was a realtor with ShoreWest Realty. He advertised extensively in local GLBT media, and was generous with his donations and funding worthy causes.
By the initiative of Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and Supervisor Peter Burgelis, some forty individuals and organizations were recognized by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and presented citations in a special meeting on June 22, 2023. "Today, we recommit Milwaukee County to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating those who make a substantial positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community in Milwaukee County," Supervisor Burgelis stated. "Today we are making up for lost time. We have dozens of people to recognize, not because so much has been done in the past year, but because decades and even years ago, there was little to no recognition of the LGBTQ+ community. I am thankful to work with a Chairperson who enables our County Board to honor these well-deserving individuals."
Recognitions were made in the categories of "Community Leaders and Activists," "Government Leaders," "Business and Cultural Leaders," and "Health and Wellness Leaders". Smith's citation (largely self-written) read as follows:
- WHEREAS, Jack H. Smith is a prominent realtor in Milwaukee, and the first realtor to advertise with photo in the LGBTQ+ community; and
- WHEREAS, Jack H. Smith was a founding supporter of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, which works to further develop the vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the greater Milwaukee area, and has an LGBT lending library at the community center named after him; and
- WHEREAS, Jack H. Smith is a long-time sponsor and supporter of the Milwaukee LGBTQ+ film festival; and
- WHEREAS, Jack H. Smith received recognition for his philanthropy work from the Shepherd Express, earning the 2018 Philanthropy Award at the LGBTQ+ Progress Awards; and
- WHEREAS, Jack H. Smith has consistently been in the top one percent of LGBTQ+ real estate agents in the entire nation, and prides himself on continually providing employment opportunities for LGBTQ+ people of all backgrounds; and
- WHEREAS, Jack H. Smith has proudly represented the LGBTQ+ community as a professional business person and philanthropist for over 37 years, demonstrating his commitment to increasing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people in all spaces; now, therefore
- BE IT RESOLVED, the members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, on the motion of Supervisors Sheldon A. Wasserman and Peter Burgelis, along with Supervisors Ryan Clancy, Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones, Caroline Gómez-Tom, Willie Johnson, Jr., Juan Miguel Martinez, Shawn Rolland, Steven Shea, Anthony Staskunas, Liz Sumner, Sequanna Taylor, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson do herewith commend Jack H. Smith for his dedicated efforts and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, and wish him prosperity, happiness, and continued success in all his personal and professional endeavors.