Cedarburg’s beloved ‘G-man,’ sanitary engineer, chosen to sing at a Milwaukee Bucks game
Most of Cedarburg knows Michael Smith’s name. They know him as the city’s beloved “G-man,” or sanitary engineer, an active member within the church, a virtual one-man neighborhood watch program, and in some cases, a guardian angel.
These days, they can add another moniker to the list: a singer talented enough to be selected to sing the national anthem at professional Milwaukee sports games.
Smith has been chosen to sing the anthem at the Milwaukee Bucks game at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, when the Bucks play the Charlotte Hornets at Fiserv Forum.
Smith has worked for Waste Management in Cedarburg for 25 years, and, while his title is sanitary engineer, most know him as the city’s “G-man,” short for garbage man.
Singing has been Smith’s dream since he was a young boy growing up in Milwaukee, a legacy passed down from family members.
He’s nurtured that love by singing at churches of all denominations around the area and at milestone events for those in his community. He said that every action he takes and every word he speaks is guided by a strong connection to his faith.
He even approaches his job as a sanitary engineer as though it were part of that same greater purpose of spreading the care and compassion he feels are so central to his religious beliefs.
The sanitary engineer has saved lives along the way
Smith has received plenty of recognition over the years for his friendly demeanor and even occasional life-saving actions on the job, but one experience in particular remains close to his heart.
In September of 2010, Dorothy Stauske was watching her grandson at a park near her home in Cedarburg when the symptoms of a stroke hit.
She noticed a garbage truck passing by and waved for help. From far away, Smith initially thought she was waving to say hello and began to continue on.
But something didn’t seem right. He turned back, ran to her from his garbage truck and got help, as she collapsed in his arms. Stauske was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where doctors later confirmed she’d had a stroke, saying Smith likely helped save her life.
To this day, she calls me her angel,” Smith said. Retelling the story almost 15 years later still brings tears to his eyes.
Another time along the route, Smith said he noticed a teenage boy walking home from school alone, looking utterly depressed. He pulled over the truck and asked the boy if he was okay.
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