Cocky Business: Robert Smith ’88 – Founder & Owner, Awards To Remember

For Robert Smith (’88), Jacksonville State University wasn’t just a college choice—it was a strategic decision that helped shape the trajectory of a business he began while still in high school. Now the proud owner of Awards To Remember, one of the Southeast’s leading awards and personalization companies, Smith has turned what began as a teenage side hustle into a thriving, four-decade legacy.

At just 15 years old, Robert began selling awards for his uncle, eventually purchasing the business a year later. By the time he earned his degree in Marketing and Finance from Jax State in 1988, he was already a seasoned business owner.

“I chose Jax State over a Presidential Scholarship at the University of Alabama because I wanted to continue building my business,” he said. “It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

Awards To Remember now serves a broad client base with high-quality custom products—ranging from plaques and trophies to corporate recognition programs and signage. The company has been recognized nationally and internationally, including as a finalist for Alabama Small Business of the Year and a Top 10 Awards Dealer in the Southeast.

Smith credits much of his success to a commitment to doing “the little things at an exceptional level.” He also emphasizes the value of mentorship—particularly the contributions of longtime manager and fellow Gamecock Leslie George, who’s been with the company for 26 years.

“My education from Jax State gave me tools I still use today,” he said. “I remember lessons from professors that are part of our everyday vocabulary in business.”

Smith remains deeply connected to his alma mater. Awards To Remember works with virtually every department on campus, and he proudly contributed to the creation of the historic signage at Angle Hall. He’s even returned to the classroom, auditing his old finance course for fun.

As a third-generation Gamecock—and now the father of two more—Smith says it best:

“I’ll always be a Jax State Gamecock. Every time I walk on campus, I feel proud to be part of something that has grown so much and continues to impact lives like it did mine.”

To learn more about Robert’s business, visit www.AwardsToRemember.com or follow Awards To Remember on Facebook and Instagram.