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Show mill Reflections, May 17, 1984, Page 2 Jack Smith Walks His Own Path by Margaret VanNoy As a young boy, John E. (Jack) Smith sat at the bedside of his dying grandmother, and listened intently to her lament about the growing lack of individualists. You can bet your grandfather was always his own self, thinking his own thoughts standing on his feet," she taught. He knew that man finds happiness by walking his own path across the earth." "Those words of his grandmother were to set the future state representatives feet on a path that would bring him honors and position, win him friends and enemies alike. Like many of his generation. Jack Smith is a product of the great depression of the 30s. He learned early the value of work and the value of money: there was little of either during those days. All my life I have tended to earn my own way. It was instilled in me in my early youth." When he says all "all my life," Jack Smith is not exaggerating. At the tender age of six, he earned his way by working 10 to 12 hours a day, sitting on the back of the derrick horse which stacked Former State Rep. John E. Smith and Claude Atkin examine the proposed Black Rock Mecca and Bonneville Overlook. Mother Nature has dealt a blow to the plans for developing the county's beach front and craggy hill into a mecca for tourists. two arms. broken accidents including in the State House of Representatives. the hay brought in from the fields words, and credits whatever success he When one of them didnt set right, Dr. He had no anticipation of winning and has had to those times when he folaround Grantsville. went to bed on election eve certain that lowed her admonition: to walk my own had a chronic stiff neck from lookPhipps had to rebreak it. It was an ordeal. But I have always been gratehe had lost. ing over my shoulder to see how high path across the earth." Even the traditional boyhood pranks ful," Jack said, because I think I have It was 1967 and that year only nine the derrick rode," he remembers. Later since done more shoveling than any showed a spirit of ingenuity and indivihe had a more comfortable seat as he Democrats won seats in the House, man in Tobele County." which gave Rep. Smith the opportunity delivered papers from his bicycle dualism. They included constructing He never forgot his grandmothers As a youth he was the victim of many as a member of the minority party to an amateur radio tarnsmitter with which he and his brothers convincingly serve on the prestigious Utah Legislative Council; It was a baptism by fire for interrupted local radio broadcasts, dethe new representative as he worked signating one of the towns imaginative characters as an F.B.I. agent whose job among, and took council from the leadwas to arrest those who parked on the ing legislative lights of the day. sidewalks, and obliging an inebriated Observing the casualties of World War II close at hand had instilled a degentleman who asked for a ride home termination in Jack to aid handicapped by putting him on a bus for San Francisco. people. As a legislator he became affiliated with the Utah State Training But boyhood pranks gave way to reaSchool and later served on the board, a lism. His father died when he was 17, position he still holds today. He is and he graduated from high school, the proud of the progress made at that enterprising young man purchased a institution providing facilities and resecond hand pickup and began hauling habilitation for the mentally handicoal, sand and gravel. capped. In spite of high blood pressure, he He is proud, too, of his part in bringmanaged to get in the U.S. Navy during Pay 88c time World War II. He came home to a job at ing a child abuse law into being. It was of sitting for an uphill battle that took years. Part Tooele Ordnance Depot. of the problem was that legislators, layBut Jack did not like working for the beautiful 8x10 men and the media whose cooperation government and quit when he received portrait was so necessary to bring the problem a memo of complaint that he was "too into prominence, refused to believe the independent." extent of child abuse because of our There was no career counseling in those days," he said, Finding what lifestyle," he pointed out. "We now have a very good child to do was wanted a of matter trial you Regular $8.00 Age limit 12 abuse law a law that other states will and error." He found his niche in the No appointment use as a role model," he said, but adbuilding trades. ded ruefully, a law is only as good as Add $1 .00 for 2 or more children together Being his own boss brought him its enforcement. We still have a long Limit one portrait monetary rewards as well as much saper child way to go." tisfaction. It gave him the time and Another pet project of the former remeans to help many people and to get Selections from original delivery envelope only presentative is the development of the involved in church and civic affairs. south shore of the Great Salt Lake. A The former state legislator has never Offer highlight of his career was getting legisTues., May 15 to Sat., May 19 considered himself a politician. Accordlative appropriation for sewer and ing to him, his eight years on the Photographers hours. . . water and persuading private enterGrantsville City Council were definitely 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Sat. til 5 p.m.) prise to move in. "They were doing a a civic minded endeavor. great job," he said. It remains to be Jacks entrance into state politics seen what will happen. Right now came about almost as a fluke. He barMother Nature is winning." gained with former mayor Jim Palmer TOOELE He is still busy in tourism, turning his that if Jim would file for county comand know how to helping the talent STORE missioner, Jack would file for the seat Tooele County Chamber of Commerce Dampened Dreams I in Fl& AN special at a color years necessary special good JCPenney |