It’s rare for Cedric Smith to step out around town without being noticed.

At Tomball Regional Hospital, folks just call him “Mr. Magnolia.”

“If they don’t recognize him, there are enough mouths around here to tell them who he is,” says his wife, Sammie.

Sitting in his brick home on a quiet residential street, filled with framed pictures of family and a range of community awards hanging on the wall, Smith has a simple answer to why he loves Magnolia so much.

“It’s home,” he says. “It’s where I was born and raised my family.”

A man described as Magnolia’s “Living Legend,” 89 year-old Cedric Smith has become an icon through his work in the community and his support for the town.

“I don’t think there’s anybody who loves Magnolia more than Cedric Smith,” said Glen Addison, president of the Magnolia ISD school board and longtime friend.

Smith, who was born and raised in Magnolia, became the town’s first mayor in October 1968 after the city became an officially incorporated municipality.

He has served on numerous boards and organizations and is currently a member of the Magnolia Rotary Club, Magnolia Area Chamber of Commerce, serves on the board of directors at Tomball Regional Hospital, and is a deacon at First Baptist Church of Magnolia.

He also helped organize the city’s first American Legion Post and is a charter member of the Lion’s Club.

Born in 1919 to farmer parents, Smith spent his early years in a one-room schoolhouse, where he went to school with his wife, Sammie, who is five years his junior.

“I knew who he was because he was always getting in trouble,” she said, “I didn’t know him, but I knew his name.”

In 1943, the pair married, and Smith entered the Army and served in World War II in Europe. After coming home, Smith worked as an electrician for Superior Oil and Exxon Mobil, and soon started his own company, Magnolia Electric Co.

After retiring for good in 1988, Smith has devoted his life to organizations and the community of Magnolia. He says he spends around 25 to 30 hours a week in meetings with the numerous organizations he is involved with.

Sammie has been by his side for 64 years. In July the couple will celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary.

“I push him and I’m supportive,” she said. “It sometimes gets frustrating.”

“Especially when she has dinner ready at five and I get home at eight,” added Smith.

In 2001, the Magnolia ISD school board voted to dedicate a newly built elementary school in Smith’s name. Despite being on the board himself for 25 years, Smith said he was surprised when he heard the news.

“I didn’t know anybody was even considering me,” he said.

Of all the accomplishments in his life, Smith will celebrate possibly the most important milestone on June 17:  his 90th birthday.

As for the future, Smith says he plans to continue his involvement within Magnolia and to spend time with his wife, his daughter Suzanne, and their three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

“My future is to live as long as I can,” he said, “to continue my church work and love the Lord ’til I join him.”

“I’ve lived a healthy life, I have a wonderful family and life,” he added. “I wouldn’t look back a minute."

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