Shel Smith SAG Award

Saturday May 22nd I return to the scene of the crime.  The 13th floor of the National Press Club where my wedding reception emptied out November 4, 1995 when reporters bolted to cover the Yitzak Rabin's assassination. 

But tomorrow's occasion is infinitely more pleasant.  My friend of 32 years, voice-over legend nonpareil Shel Smith, is honored with:

Press release: SCREEN ACTORS GUILD PRESENTS PRESTIGIOUS HOWARD KEEL AWARD AT WASHINGTON, D.C. EVENT

SAG/AFTRA Washington-Baltimore Branch member Sheldon Smith will receive the 2nd Annual Howard Keel Award for his tireless contributions to Screen Actors Guild. Smith joined SAG in Detroit in 1968. Based in Washington, D.C. since 1986, Smith is an award-winning actor/narrator and perhaps the best-known voice of Republican media campaigns in America. He is a four-time winner of the Peer Award for Voiceover/Narration, most recently the 2009 Peer Gold Award for A Restless Giant - The Ever-Changing Nature of Mount Rainier, produced for the National Park Service by Henninger Productions. Smith is also the recipient of 19 Telly Awards, multiple Pollie Awards and Reed Awards, and a CINE Golden Eagle Award, among other recognitions. For more than 30 years, he has specialized exclusively in voiceover. For the past several years, Smith has presented a very popular workshop nationwide which teaches members how to convert non-union work into union jobs. Smith has also participated in every Branch Wages & Working Conditions Committee for both the Commercials and Industrial Contracts for over 20 years. Named for the legendary actor-singer and former SAG president, the Howard Keel Award is annually presented to persons who make a significant contribution to the promotion of Screen Actors Guild and to the welfare and benefit of members in their Branch, or nationally, as part of the Regional Branch Division. Keel was SAG’s 10th president (1958-59) and during his term, the SAG National Board was increased from 39 to 52 seats, allowing for Branch representation — for the first time — from New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Detroit and Boston.

Listen to Shel's demos here.

Shel's a 1956 graduate of Michigan's Waterford Township High School.  The 50th reunion bio from 2006:  Attended the University of Michigan. Worked as program director of KMAN radio, Manhattan, Kansas, from 1958 to 1961, then joined my dad in real estate business in Pontiac. United States Army from 1962 to 1964, Sergeant (E5)with AFN-Europe in Germany. Realtor in Pontiac, from 1965 to 1983, President of North Oakland Board of Realtors 1971. Oakland County Republican Chairman, 1971 to 1975. Member of AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild since mid-60s. Lived in LA, 1983 to 1986; Washington, DC, 1986 to present. Met Sue, also from Michigan, in 1991; married in 1998. Sue is an attorney with United States Department of Energy. One daughter, Jennifer, age 30. Self employed full-time as a professional voiceover actor.

I'm going to the dinner and tribute with Jim Bohannon.  Will have video Monday!