Corporate executive and “Civic giant” left mark in construction, minority business, and civic circles

April 21, 1946 — March 5, 2026

  

Seldom does an individual begin a career as inauspiciously and end it as illustriously across so many spheres as did the Rev. Hilton O. Smith. And perhaps more rarely, he was beloved by those with whom he worked in every one of those spheres.

Hilton came to Cleveland in 1968 after earning his B.A. degree in political science and sociology from St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh NC. He would later earn a labor relations specialist certification from Cornell University.

Smith began his career as a personnel assistant working in the City of Cleveland’s health department for Mayor Carl B. Stokes. In 1972, he joined Turner Construction Company as an equal employment opportunity coordinator. He rose through the ranks and in 1995 was senior vice president for corporate and community affairs. In this role, he also led the Turner School of Construction Management.

Hilton was initially tasked with developing Turner’s minority recruitment program in Cleveland. As he achieved success locally, his role expanded to other cities across the country until he was operating out of Turner’s national office.

He had a way of convincing people to do what is right just because it is right.

 

Turner CEO Emeritus Al Sanchez was Smith’s boss for much of his tenure with the company and had a clear view of Hilton’s style and accomplishments. “He planted the flag in Cleveland, then expanded it nationally”, said Sanchez. “He did a splendid job in incorporating capable minority enterprises” that could do the work. He always got along with everybody. He had a very smooth way of working and he was noncombative. I’m not sure I ever heard him raise his voice. He was very persuasive at explaining to companies why it was good business for them to do business with minorities.”

While Sanchez could not quantify Hilton’s impact on the construction world, he confirmed there was no doubt that Hilton had an enormous positive effect on the bottom lines of both Turner and untold MBEs over the course of his four decades with the company.

Those who knew Hilton attest that he never forgot where he came from. The skills, success and confidence that Smith accrued in the business world gave him the platform he needed to give back to the city that had adopted a young fellow from a small North Carolina town.

Glen Shumate, vice president of Construction Employers Association, met Smith towards the tail end of Smith’s career in the industry. He saw Hilton’s service more in the civic arena, describing him as a community champion.

“He made everyone’s life better by his words and actions. He exhibited grace, humility, and an appreciation for others. He had an ability to lift other people up. His understanding of the importance of relationships made him a civic giant in the business, church and community arenas. And he continued doing it up until the day he got sick.”

The list of organizations for which Smith served in leadership positions include president of the Cleveland chapter of the NAACP and board chair of both the Cleveland Municipal School District and St. Augustine’s University. He held board positions with the Cleveland Foundation, Cuyahoga Community College, University Hospitals in Cleveland, the NAACP National Foundation, the United Black Fund, United Way, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and the Construction Industry Advancement Program (UCIP-ASAP).

Smith also served on the National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC) National Board beginning in 1975 and became an emeritus national board member in 2016 after forty-one years of service. He was a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Notwithstanding his leadership roles, Smith was both approachable and accessible. Greater Cleveland Urban League CEO Marsha Mockabee remembers Hilton as “a compassionate counselor who would listen without judgment work with you to get a solution. And he understood that sometimes you just needed for someone to listen to you vent. And he always had a spiritual word.

There was no place where he wasn’t respected. This was true whether he was dealing with peers or mentoring and interacting with youth at Urban League programs." The secret, she said, had to do with how he carried himself: he showed respect to everybody.

“He had a way of convincing people to do what is right just because it is right.”

Smith’s professional and personal steadfastness was noted by friends far and wide. National Urban League President & CEO Marc Morial can’t remember when he met Hilton, but said “it seems like I’ve known him forever. We are both members of Alpha Phi Alpha so of course I think of him that way. He was an active member of the Cleveland Urban League, especially during the challenging years around 2008-9. He was always gracious, a true community leader.

“Whenever I thought of Turner Construction, I thought of Hilton. He was a connector, a door opener. His presence was ubiquitous. He had a great big personality, and a willingness to help out whenever he could. He was beloved.”

Smith was named Black Professional of the Year in 2004 by the Black Professionals Association Charitable Foundation, one of many honors he received during his career.

Alongside his corporate career, Smith became an associate minister for the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio in 2010.

Hilton O. Smith was born April 21, 1946, in Elizabethtown, North Carolina to Jack Smith, Jr. and Willie Hall Smith.

Smith resided in Aurora, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Masha; four children; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

The funeral service is scheduled for 10:30a Friday, March 20, 2026, at The Word Church, 18909 Miles Road [44128], followed by interment at Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue [44106]. A 9:30a wake will precede the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Calhoun Funeral Home, 23300 Rockside Road [44146]. A viewing will be held at Calhoun’s on Thursday, March 19, from 1p-8p; the family will be present to receive friends from 4p-8p.

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