J. Roger Smith attended Huntington area schools and graduated with a B.B.A. from Marshall University in 1969. He served his country in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1960 to 1966.
Smith served on Huntington City Council from 1981 to 1985 and was the mayor of Huntington in 1983-1984 when Huntington operated under the council-manager form of government. His accomplishments include the creation of the Economic Development Department and the dedication of David W. Harris Riverfront Park.
Smith helped develop Guaranty Bank and Trust Company, where he serves on the Board of Directors. He also is a member of Rotary International and a board member of the Huntington Municipal Development Authority. His memberships in other organizations include Kiwanis Club, Huntington Urban Renewal Authority, Huntington Bicentennial Commission, Tri-State Airport Authority, Huntington Planning Commission, Cabell Huntington Hospital Board, West Virginia Heart Association, Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce Board and Marshall University's School of Business Advisory Board.
During his time with the Huntington Jaycees, he earned many awards including Jaycees Key Man in 1969, Jaycees Outstanding President in 1970, Jaycees Distinguished Service in 1971 and Jaycee International Senate in 1974. Roger was Realtor of the Year in 1998, president of the Huntington Board of Realtors in 1998 and 2000, and he was president of the West Virginia Association of Realtors in 2004.
