An elegant woman that exudes Southern genteelness, Betty Smith Speir ’63 is a fixture in Greenville and at East Carolina—a role she has enjoyed for many years. A current member or former member of many East Carolina boards, founder of the Pitt County Educational Foundation, and an influential North Carolina democrat, Speir’s influence is far reaching—beyond East Carolina and eastern North Carolina.

A native of Pitt County, Speir grew up in Bethel with her two younger brothers Dr. W. Jim Smith, who taught biology at ECU, and Bob Smith, who is an attorney in the North Carolina State Attorney General’s Office. Their father owned Bethel Manufacturing, a mill and cotton gin, and their mother was a music major in college. Education was important in the home and encouraged to the siblings. Speir followed her father’s footsteps and attended Duke University for undergrad, where she studied English and history, and met her husband Dave. The couple married in 1950 and moved to Mint Hill for Dave’s job with Atlantic Refining. It wasn’t long before the draw to return “down east” brought the couple to Speir’s hometown, where they put down roots and started their family.

Speir taught 8th grade in Farmville her first year out of college before getting married. After a few years at home with daughters Candy and Christie, Speir became a teaching fixture in Pitt County. She spent years in the classroom teaching English and literature at Bethel High School, and when the new North Pitt High School was slated for opening, Speir was asked to shift roles and serve as guidance counselor, which she did for nearly two decades. Her East Carolina master’s degree in education and subsequent certification in counseling helped her advance in her career and fueled a passion for the University.

Politics is also a passion for Speir. Her father served as a County Commissioner and also chaired the board. His commitment to the community was inspiring to Speir, so when the chair of the Pitt County Democratic Party asked her to serve as vice chair of the group, Speir accepted. “They needed a woman on the executive committee and I agreed to fill the position. At that time, there was a trend in the nation to get more women involved in politics and serving on political parties. I enjoy meeting new people and found the work quite interesting. It was a fulfilling part of my life,” she said.

Speir’s moxie is something of legend among democrats in Pitt County and her sheer tenacity to push for what she believes in—in her sweet, convincing way—is laudable. It was this resolve that convinced East Carolina College President Dr. Leo Jenkins to ask Speir to be the one to graciously let the people in Raleigh know that then governor Dan Moore was not welcome in Greenville at the statewide Democratic Women’s meeting. (The governor did not approve of ECC seeking university status.) “I had to stand up, in Raleigh, in front of the state’s Executive Committee and say to them, ‘We think he is a delightful man, but I’m sorry, he would not really be appreciated in Greenville right now to speak at the Democratic Women’s meeting. Perhaps you could send the Lieutenant Governor?’ There was dead quiet. I mean dead quiet. I sat down and I have never been so embarrassed in all my life. Lt. Gov. Bob Scott ended up attending and it worked out just as well since he became the next governor.” Whether it was a sense of duty or pure gumption that gave Speir the courage to stand up for East Carolina that day, it surely wouldn’t be the last time the school had her in its corner.

“I believed wholeheartedly in the medical school opening at East Carolina and I’m proud to have been a part of that. I don’t think I’ve ever done anything as one person, but it’s good to contribute to something worthwhile,” remarked Speir. Her influence in the state’s Democratic Party helped former Governor Jim Hunt get elected and earned her a spot on the Democratic National Committee. Speir was chair and vice chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party, chair of Pitt County Democratic Women, and the first woman chair of Pitt County’s Democratic Party. She has been recognized with a North Carolina Democratic Woman of the Year award and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, among others, including an East Carolina Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award and was named one of ECU’s 100 Incredible Women.

Although Speir did not attend East Carolina until graduate school, the University has been an important part of her adult life. For years she and husband Dave have enjoyed the many cultural and athletic activities East Carolina offers. Speir even served as chair of the Friends of Joyner Library Board. But her most notable service to the University was her eight years on the Board of Trustees. It was during her board tenure that all ECU sports joined Conference USA, Joyner Library’s collection topped one million volumes, and the Student Health Center was revamped.

Speir has high hopes for the future of East Carolina. Now that the School of Dental Medicine has welcomed its first class of students, she feels that broadening the engineering program would be beneficial, as well as adding a school of law. “I enjoy my involvement with East Carolina very much. I’ve met some fascinating people and I believe, in my own small way, I’ve helped do some good for the University.” She continues to answer the call of East Carolina through work with the College of Education, the Women’s Roundtable, the Honors College, and the ECU Club at Cypress Glen.

When not busy with East Carolina, Speir enjoys retirement with her husband, gardening, spending time at the beach, playing bridge, singing in the church choir, reading, and music.