I, James Allen Smith, was born on November 7, 1921, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to amazing parents Samuel E. and Mary Margueritte Smith. My father was a “super salesman” in the very best sense of the word. He was also a preacher’s son. Even though my father passed when I was only 16, he “trained me up in the way I should go and when I was old I did not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). He was a great father and my mother was his “Great Lady”. To be honest with you, my father really gave me my foundation for life. He instilled in me the desire, in those early years, to go to military school and to become a tax attorney, but life had a different plan! I owe a lot to him and I just wish I could have known him as an adult.
My mother could not have done a better job. She always gave generously to me of her time. One of the things that she always did was to read to me as a child and even into my early teens when I was sick. My parents obviously received their stellar parenting gifts from their own parents (both sets of my grandparents). I am very fortunate.
I’m grateful for the schooling I received in my formative years. There was Ramsey and Washburn in Minneapolis. Ramsey had many interesting vocational courses. I took Electricity, Printing, Woodwork and Metalwork. I remember hating how Mrs. Frizzell made us memorize parts of speeches at the time, but that got me through other composition and English courses later on.
I was quite active in High School. I participated in Hi-Y Group, which was YMCA’s Christian alternative to other unhealthy after-school activity. Hi-Y sponsored activities such as dances but mostly it was just fun hanging out together. I had a paper route with the Minneapolis Star, which was in intense competition with the Minneapolis Journal. Paper boys were expected to go door-to-door to get new orders for the Star. New content such as new comics (Lil’ Abner), a new sportswriter, and a fresh new columnist named Cedric Adams was making the paper all the more interesting. The enticing contest prizes helped me to overcame a lot of fear when I approached a home to sell the paper. Plus, the Paper Supervisor kept after us to make the sales. Eventually the Star merged with the Journal to become the Star-Journal.
During the summer, for five years straight, Mom and Dad sent me to Warren Summer Camp. It was good preparation for dormitory life and also for Navy life. Really, it could be said that it was just great preparation for life in general.
If I had to point to several challenges in my early life and upbringing that didn’t work out as well as I would have liked, it would definitely be the following three. I don’t think of them as regrets so much as life lessons learned. First, my father recognized my great interest in radios and electronics. So he hired a radio repairman to instruct me on how radios worked. But this “instructor” was just a less than competent educator and radio repairman, so his instruction did not come close to launching my career in radio and electronics. My second “regret” is that my piano lessons were all in classical music rather than in the popular tunes of the day. So, I got bored and after a several years mother and I gave up completely. I still maintained an interest in music, so after the war I tried to learn on my own, this time with no teacher, but I finally gave up. Thirdly, even though I passed my CAA Aircraft and Engines Licensees at Park Aircraft Training to be a mechanic in the War I felt the practical training was grossly deficient, especially in engines. So, after two stints as a mechanic after the War, I headed for a Business and Financial degree at the University of Minnesota. That worked out so much better, but even there it was not immediately clear what a stock broker had to do to get going until much later in my life. I guess you could say overcoming all these challenges in life was part of my journey and I’m grateful for these experiences too.
My first semester in College was pretty uninteresting as I lived at home and I commuted. I entered College thinking I wanted to be a mechanical Engineer, based on my mechanical bent, my liking mechanical drawing, and upon what aptitude tests I had taken. I should have actually sat down with an engineer before I started down that path because I soon realized that engineering wasn’t at all what I thought it was. Needless to say, I switched majors.
Next was the Navy Air Corps, which was really good for me. I grew up a lot in the military. And the training and calisthenics have been beneficial for me throughout my life. The military’s competitive atmosphere woke me up and made me realize one has to seriously apply oneself to operate in this world.
Finally, I wish to say that my faith has sustained me throughout my life. I would like to believe that my life honored God. I am glad for all the riches and blessings I have been given. My life was lived on the foundations of Gratitude and Grace.
I just want to thank everyone in my tribe for being on my earthly journey with me. That I got to share the same sun with you all those many years is such a delight.
Thanks to my son Samuel Smith and my daughter Gale Anne Fischl, who sadly passed away early this year.
And many blessings upon my beloved grandchildren Scott Smith, Todd Smith and James Fischl.
And my great-grandchildren: Emma Smith, Haddie Smith, Conner Smith, Hudson Smith and Zoe Fischl.
You all were my greatest blessing in this life.
My beloved wife Helen Ruth Smith passed away on April 27, 2006. We were married for 58 years. It is an immense joy to re-join Helen and also my daughter Gale Anne. As you can imagine our reunion is tremendous.
I feel warmed to be treasured in your hearts forever. It has been a wonderful life. I treasure you back. God Bless!
A private graveside service was held.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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