WEDU to Honor the Memory of William Reece Smith, Jr.

Jan. 27, 2013 - PRLog -- WEDU, west central Florida’s primary PBS station, will honor the memory of legendary Tampa Bay attorney William Reece Smith, Jr. by re-broadcasting a profile produced for WEDU’s “Suncoast Business Forum”.  The program originally broadcast in July 2010 will be re-broadcast Thursday evening January 31st at 8:00 pm, and Sunday afternoon February 3rd at 2:00 pm.

Smith, President Emeritus of the prestigious Carlton Fields law firm, died Friday January 11, 2013. He joined the firm in 1953 and helped build it into one of the largest law firms in the state with 300 lawyers. He was former president of the Florida, American and International Bar Associations. He also served as interim president of the University of South Florida.

He was an early crusader for civil rights, and justice for societies less fortunate. In the 1980s, as American Bar president, he rallied lawyers to defeat a proposal to eliminate federal funds for legal services for the poor. Smith, was founder of Florida Legal Services, and strongly encouraged private attorneys to donate some of their time to help the poor.

The “Suncoast Business Forum” is a monthly public affairs program produced by WEDU TV 3, Florida’s primary PBS station. The program is broadcast the last Thursday each month at 8:30 pm.  Following the broadcast, the program can be viewed at the “Suncoast Business Forum” website at:  wedu.org/sbf.  The “Suncoast Business Forum” is hosted by Geoffrey Simon.

ABOUT WEDU
WEDU is west central Florida’s primary PBS station and public media company reaching 16 counties through media platforms including on-air programming and online experiences that broaden horizons, transport and transform and open gateways to new ideas and new worlds. Financially supported by the community, the organization offers a wealth of award-winning inspirational, educational and enlightening content over a variety of multi-media platforms including: television programming, station’s website, wedu.org and various social media platforms, monthly member magazine Premiere, educational outreach activities and a myriad of special events.  WEDU’s focus on the local community has resulted in the station being regarded as a beacon of trust for men, women and children of every walk of life no matter their age, ethnicity or socio-economic status. WEDU is a treasured community resource; a window to the world for the homebound and a vital educational source for the youngest members of society.  WEDU prides itself on its position in the Tampa Bay community as a leader, partner, informed citizen and a member of PBS, the most trusted institution in America (Harris Interactive Trust QuickQuery, February 2012).

For more information, program schedules or to support WEDU visit wedu.org; WEDU Public Media on Facebook and Twitter or call 813.254.9338.