Bayou Icon | William Smart

ARTICLE BY GEORGIANN POTTS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

LEADING WITH HEART:
William Smart is reshaping how his community sees modern public housing, pairing kindness with a firm insistence that perceptions catch up with today’s reality. His journey from a tight-knit Monroe upbringing to dedicated public service and leadership of the Monroe Housing Authority reveals a life devoted to hard work, faith, and lifting others up.

It takes empathy, the ability to listen and really hear what is being said, and a sensitive soul to oversee a city’s public housing section. Executive Director William Smart has all of these qualities and more. As a result, the Monroe Housing Authority is in excellent hands under his care. Smart left a successful management career at Brookshire’s to accept the call to public service. He has led the Monroe Housing Authority with distinction since 2019. He loves working with the families at all stages – beginning home owners through the elderly seeking safety and refuge in senior housing. With his perpetual smile and positive attitude, Smart is making a difference for so many in our community. He has also always found time to volunteer for causes that he believes are truly helping others. Because of his “can do” spirit and his willingness to give back to others every way that he can, William Smart is our December BayouIcon.

Don’t make the mistake of referring to public housing as the “projects” around William Smart. If you do, you’ll only do it once. With good humor and a desire to improve public perceptions, William will explain – with equal parts kindness and firmness – that things have changed since the old days. The longer you listen to what he has to say about today’s public housing, the more you realize that things have changed – and for the better.
William became Executive Director of the Monroe Housing Authority (MHA) in 2019 when the Board of Commissioners appointed him. William followed former MHA Executive Director, Frank Wilcox. The two worked together for the first time when William joined the MHA board. William credits Frank with being a dynamic and selfless mentor who helped prepare him to take the helm. But Frank wasn’t the only person along the way who helped William gain the skills and experience necessary for this job. There were others — beginning with his family.

Building Character Begins with Family
William quickly admits that he owes much to his parents. They taught him by example and through words just how important a person’s name (i.e. character) is throughout life. Both were hard workers who supported their children every way that they could. The family has lived in the same southside Monroe neighborhood for decades, and that area – Burg Jones Lane — is central to William’s sense of “home.”
William’s father – Roosevelt Smart, Jr. – set the example of hard work to care for one’s family. He worked two jobs, with a single hour between the end of one and the beginning of the next. “I remember my dad coming in for a quick lunch at noon and then sleep for an hour before he had to leave for his other job,” William says. “And he really slept – with loud snores and all – during that hour.”
Roosevelt Jr. worked for the City of Monroe in their recreation centers and also worked for Plymouth Tube Company. Even though his working hours were from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. William’s dad still attended every one of his son’s events that he could. “That meant so much to me then and now,” William says. “To see Dad there let me know how much he cared and supported me.”
William’s mother, Donna England Smart, also worked hard to care for her family. She worked as a housekeeper before becoming a cashier at Super 1 Foods. Donna was attended every function that she could.
Roosevelt Jr. and Donna were blessed with three children. Their daughter Rose was born first. Two years later William was born. Then six years later, a second son they named Roosevelt Smart III arrived. When William was older, he questioned why they hadn’t named him – the firstborn son – after his dad. They explained that William was named for his mother’s father, William England, to honor his mom’s family. “It worked out for the best,” William says. “Roosevelt III is much more like our dad than I am.”
An early lesson that his parents taught their children was the value of doing one’s part – no matter how young you are – to help the family. William and his siblings had specific chores to complete while their parents were at work. “We learned how to do the house chores while we were home alone,” William explains. “We treated our chores like a job, and at noon we would ‘take off’ for an hour for lunch. We would make our sandwiches and get our drinks, and then watch television while we ate. That way when we were grown, we all knew how to do housework, and do it right.” William laughs when he remembers one downside to that instruction. “I learned to iron really well,” he says. “Because of that talent, Mom would often wake me up before the rest so I could iron her pants to wear to work. My siblings got extra sleep!”

Another lesson was the importance of education. Neither parent went to college, but both instilled in William the will to pursue knowledge. They told their children that they could be anything they wanted to be as long as they worked hard. “Education is the roadmap,” they repeatedly reminded their children. William’s mother always told him that he was special every time they talked. That “You are special!” comment helped William grow in confidence.
William grew up in a close-knit family – not just his core family, but also the family members who lived nearby. That “home-base” has nurtured William his entire life. A grandmother, an aunt, an uncle plus cousins gave William a sense of safety and family love. One uncle – Uncle Walter England (aka Uncle Buddy) – always had honeybuns handy to give to his nieces and nephews.
Holidays were special times for William’s family. At Christmas, they would begin at his maternal grandmother’s home and then move on to his dad’s parents’ home. At both there was lots of food and fun – especially with the cousins playing together. William remembers the big porch that his dad’s parents (Mahaley and Roosevelt Smart Sr.) would sit on and watch the children play. The children would anxiously await the moment with their grandfather would give each of them a silver 50-cent piece. “We were so excited to get that coin every year,” Williams remembers. “I saved them all, and still have them today.”

Education and Experience
William went to Burg Jones Lane Elementary, Jefferson Junior High, and Wossman High. He enjoyed all three, but it was during high school that William’s personality came alive. There he and four friends formed their own club based on a common goal – they all wanted to become businessmen. At the time, Stacy Adams dress shoes were considered the best shoes for businessmen. The boys decided to name their club “Stacy Adams, Inc.” and all five members had to have a pair. To go with their Stacy Adams shoes, all five wore suits and ties and carried a small briefcase. To say that they stood out is an understatement! “We were recognized everywhere we went,” William remembers. “We made good grades and presented a positive image. The girls knew who we were, for sure!” Of the five boys, three went on to successful careers in business – their dream.
Besides Stacy Adams, Inc., William also enjoyed being in the Wossman band. There he played clarinet – an instrument he chose after he saw (and heard) Pete Fountain playing on TV. William was good, and won the John Phillip Sousa Award. William admits that there was a second benefit to playing the clarinet. When the band traveled, they traveled by bus according to what instruments they played. “I was the only male clarinet player, so I got to travel with the girls!” William says with a laugh.
Interestingly, William’s high school yearbook quotes him as saying “I want to be in construction”. He could not have known then, but construction would become a part of his career path later on.
William’s first work experience outside of his home involved bartering. He was a good billiards player, but didn’t have the money to spend on games. William struck a deal with the owner of the billiards parlor – he would keep the table tops clear of chalk dust and clean up the floor in exchange for free games. That worked well for them both. “There I learned important lessons,” William says. “It taught me patience, to be methodical, and to develop strategies for success.”
The first paycheck that William earned came during high school when he worked in the kitchen at Warehouse No. 1 shucking oysters and doing whatever was needed. After graduation William sold men’s clothing at J.C. Penney’s.

Finding the Perfect Life Partner
Mishelle Puckett was attending a Christmas party in 1989 when William saw her for the first time. Because of Stacy Adams Inc. William thought that he knew most of the young ladies but he had never met this one. He asked a friend who she was. He approached her, introduced himself and walked away. As he left, he told her that he was sorry they had never met. For the rest of the evening, he kept his distance.
After that, William began doing research. He learned where Mishelle worked and went there to see her again. Being as casual as he could be, William greeted her and said he remembered her from the party. Then he asked if he might take her to lunch. She agreed, and they went to lunch for their first date. From that lunch to today, they have been together.
After dating several years, the two were married on October 30, 1993. The wedding was at New Light Baptist Church in Monroe. Mishelle’s parents (Clara and Garland Puckett) live in Monroe, but the rest of her family and friends are from Hot Springs, Arkansas, and traveled by bus down for the festivities. “For me, it had been love at first sight. I told her early on when we were dating that I was going to marry her. She didn’t believe me,” William says. “When I saw her enter the church through that door for our wedding, I cried. There was a very spiritual feeling all through the church that day.”
Building a Management Career
In 1986, William made a decision that would change his life. He called Brookshire’s to see if they were hiring. They told him they weren’t, but to stay in touch. He then called them every two weeks asking the same question and getting the same responses. Changing tactics, he found out the name of the man who was making hiring decisions with a little help from the secretary who kept getting his inquiries. After church one Sunday, William looked up the man’s address and went to his home. When the man’s wife answered the door, William gave her his name and asked to speak with her husband if he had a few minutes. “I told Mr. Pear that I wanted to put a face with a name for him,” William explains. “He remembered my name and said perhaps something would come up. The next day Mr. Pear’s secretary called me and told me I had a job.”
William began his 28-year with Brookshire’s as an order puller in the distribution center – a labor intensive job. He quickly moved up the ranks – lead man to foreman to manager in short order. Along the way, William honed valuable management skills that would serve him well at the MHA.
College was not on William’s radar until he began working at Brookshire’s. There Lavance Henderson was in a group of supervisors who were walking around the company, asking workers what could be done better in their area. Henderson asked William, and William gave him a long list of suggestions. Henderson was impressed, and advised William to go to school so he could be in a position to help the company.
William started college at Grambling in 1988, but the long hours at work and for the drive to school proved too much. He transferred to ULM to complete his degree. Because he was working full-time while going to college William could only take one or two classes at a time. While in college, William pledged Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. He has enjoyed that association ever since, and is an active alumnus. Through Kappa, William has befriended many men in the community who are well respected. Through perseverance, William graduated from ULM with his General Studies degree in 2001. “I am proud of that degree,” William says. “I never gave up and eventually I earned it.”
From 2007 – 2012, William owned his own construction business – years after that yearbook note. He named his company Eagle Construction Company because “. . . I especially liked Isaiah 40:31 – ‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint’.” William worked at Brookshire’s while managing his own company. Eagle Construction did work for Katrina recovery and some remodeling but never built at house from the ground up.

Giving Back
William remembers having a conversation with his parents about 20 years ago during which he told them that he would like to work in public service some day. He wanted to help others the way he had been helped. They told him that someday that opportunity would come. They were right.
William became an active citizen volunteer, offering his time and talents to organizations that he believed were making a difference in our community. He believed in “gumbo experience” – adding things one at a time until you had a body of experience that would serve you as you moved forward. “I have a strong faith,” William says. “All of those experiences added up to get me where I am today.”
Over time, William assumed board positions on the United Way, Ouachita Council on Aging, NOVA, St. Francis Medical Center Foundation, BRIP, and the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, among others. He served on their executive boards and often chaired the volunteer work. The Monroe Chamber awarded him the 2024 Rambin/Silverstein Memorial Award in honor of his community leadership. It was his appointment to the Monroe Housing Authority’s Board of Directors that changed the course of his life and ultimately presented the opportunity for public service that he wanted.
In 2019, William resigned his management position at Brookshire’s and accepted the appointment as Executive Director of the Monroe Housing Authority. When asked what was different in the two jobs, William quickly answered. “At Brookshire’s, my work was all about product. At the Housing Authority, my work is all about people,” William explains. “This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had. Every day is a good day – challenges and all.”
William assumed his position shortly before the COVID pandemic changed everything. It changed the way MHA had always done things, and pushed agency operations more toward technology. “We were essential workers so we had to come to work,” William remembers. “We had to put procedures in place to address the new reality we found ourselves in. We had HUD guidelines as a guide, but we had to adapt those to our particular community’s needs.”
Just as he was adjusting to the pandemic, William was in a car accident. He had only limited injuries, but tests to confirm that revealed a tumor on his spine. He had always enjoyed good health, so the tumor was a surprise. He had surgery to remove it in 2022 and it was benign. William had always enjoyed dancing, and had started line dancing regularly while he was still at Brookshire’s. When his physical therapist asked him what he wanted to be able to do again, William responded “Get back to line dancing!” He still has to use a walker, but has gotten much better. He is confident that he will eventually begin to walk without assistance on the basis of two dreams – one that he had and one that Mishelle had on the same night. Both dreamt that he was walking without his walker, and both believe that was a sign that it will happen.

After several years heading up MHA, William is happy and not even considering retirement. He has grown in this position, and feels that there is more growth ahead. Besides, when he does retire, William is sure that he will be still be volunteering somewhere, doing his best to help others.
William faces each day as an opportunity to make lives better in the 3000 units that he oversees. He looks forward to interacting with the people that he and his team are serving. “I put myself in their position to try and understand how best to help them,” William says. “That makes decisions easier to make and lets me sleep good at night. I know that I have done my best and have treated people fairly.”
One of the most meaningful life experiences William has had occurred while he was still Brookshire’s. Brookshire’s sponsored an annual trip to Washington D.C. for older military veterans so that they could see the capital, visit the memorials, go to the Smithsonian, and enjoy remembering their service years together. One year William was selected to go on the trip as a veteran’s helper. His veteran was a WWII veteran. That trip was very special to William and the other helpers as they were able to listen as the veterans told their stories to each other.
Although they do not have children, William and Mishelle have many nieces and nephews to spoil. That generation is grown up now, but there will be another generation soon. The two readily admit that they “grew up” together. Their marriage is a true partnership that has sustained them both.
Asked recently what his personal goal for his life is, William answered, “When I am no longer here, I hope that I will be remembered for making a difference in someone’s life,” he says. “I want them to remember that William Smart was here.”
William Smart will long be remembered not only for the important things that he has done, but also for the small comforts that he has brought to others along the way. Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) described such a life: “The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE:
Asked recently what his personal goal for his life is, William answered, “When I am no longer here, I hope that I will be remembered for making a difference in someone’s life,” he says. “I want them to remember that William Smart was here.”