I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Jim Smith after a long and courageous fight with illness. Mr. Smith first came to Kershaw County after serving our country in the military as part of the first faculty at ATEC, where he also later served as an administrator. Mr. Smith’s vision and leadership in the early years at ATEC were critical to the school’s growth and development.
After retirement from ATEC, Mr. Smith served for a number of years on the Kershaw County Board of School Trustees. He was also active in the community through youth sports, rodeos, and many other areas. You could always find Mr. Smith at school fairs and other school events with his hay wagon or one of his horses for children to ride. He provided a lot of joy for countless children over the years doing this, and I believe he got as much joy as the kids did. (He once got me to sit on a bull at the Midway Elementary Rodeo…One of my favorite memories.)
During Mr. Smith’s tenure on the School Board, the District began a concerted effort to upgrade facilities and implement technology, among many other accomplishments. In working with Mr. Smith as a School Board member, I tremendously valued his straightforward honesty, his common sense, and his tremendous ability to promote discussion and build consensus. You always knew where Mr. Smith stood, but he was always willing to listen and compromise. Mr. Smith was an individual who loved this community and did much to give back to it. He will be missed by many. I will miss him a lot.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Smith’s family.
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