A Raleigh native, Smedes York is part of a family business that began in 1910. He is chairman of York Properties, Inc. and of affiliated companies Prudential York Simpson Underwood and McDonald York Building Company. A former and current member of numerous leading organizations, he has spent decades serving in various capacities. A graduate of Broughton High School in 1959, he earned a civil engineering degree from NC State in 1963. After serving two years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1968. He served on the Raleigh City Council from 1977 to 1979, and two terms as mayor from 1979 to 1983. During a period of tremendous change and growth in the schools, his staunch support of public education in political, business, and community circles helped build the foundation for today’s success.