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Article published Jan 13, 2005
Community to celebrate state Sen. Verne Smith's 80th birthday

Amanda Ridley
Staff Writer

Jefferson Verne Smith always dreamed of building a colonial home on a hilltop overlooking his hometown.From that spot, he could keep a close watch on his city and its people.More than 30 years ago, that dream came true.And "Uncle Verne," as many call him, has spent a lifetime watching over the interests of Greer and its people.Showing appreciation, the community will celebrate the state senator's 80th birthday Friday -- one day before his actual birth date -- with a breakfast in his honor at First Presbyterian Church on South Main Street in Greer.Speaker of the House David Wilkins and others also will pay tribute to Smith during the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce annual meeting Friday evening. And the state House of Representatives will honor Smith with a resolution marking Jan. 14 as J. Verne Smith Day for his years of dedication to his community.Though he has traveled to Columbia for every legislative session since 1973, Smith's heart has always remained on that hill overlooking Greer.It's where his daddy ran the family peach farming business until he died in 1933, leaving behind 8-year-old Smith and his three older sisters and younger brother.It's one of the places Smith thought of most while serving in the Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946.And it's the spot where he gave his wife, Jean, the diamond that he could finally afford after nine years of marriage."When we were courting, he talked about this hill all the time," said Jean, seated beside Smith inside their home on Peachtree Drive."He'd bring me here and say, 'I'm going to build a house right here.' "Keeping every vowAnd the day he gave her that promised diamond ring, she knew he'd do everything he could to keep every vow he ever made.Through his years as a successful businessman and politician, Smith said he's done just that.He learned that from his mother, he said."If we said we were going to do something -- or be somewhere -- it didn't matter how, but we better do it," he said."Boy, she was a hard worker. Of course, she had to be after my daddy died."After he returned from war in 1946, the peach crop was ruined in a devastating freeze.And Smith said he looked to his mother for the strength to try a new career path.That's when he began working for $45 a week at the Tire Exchange downtown.It was three years before his boss, Lloyd Hunt, a former Greer mayor and member of the House of Representatives, raised his salary to $60 a week.But as he worked, Smith gave Hunt whatever he could so one day he could take over.Four years later, Hunt's daughter was in the hospital with polio, and he told Smith he was ready to turn over the business."I started doing as much (business) in aweek as we used to do in a month," he said.His customers loved and trusted him so much that in 1966 they encouraged him to run for a seat on the Greer Commission of Public Works.By this time, he and Jean had two children, and he wasn't sure what to do.Jean encouraged him to run, so he did. And he won."It was a sacrifice, but he never saw it that way because he felt called to do things to help people -- things that would help our children," Jean said.After serving as a public works commissioner, Smith was elected chairman of the Greenville County Democratic Party.And when the party didn't have a candidate for state senator in 1972, Smith stepped up."Everyone said I should do it. It was a real exciting time for me," he said."I'll never forget when I was sworn in. It was January 1973, and I was ready."But it didn't take long to realize freshman senators didn't have much power."I called home to Jean and told her I was lucky if they tell me where the bathroom is," he said."Oh man, there was nothing lower."By this time, their children were grown and had moved out. With her husband in Columbia three days a week, Jean thought she could get back involved with her garden club.But Verne wanted her with him."He said to me, 'If you don't go with me, then I'm not going,'" she said.And so she did -- every week for years.As Smith gained seniority in the Senate, his power grew.And he was the reason why a lot of things happened for Greer.Former Mayor Don Wall remembers going to Smith in 1998 when the state almost reneged on a promise to build a new road to connect Highways 29 and 101."Verne got right on it, and that's the only reason it worked out," said Wall, who lives next door to Smith.The new connector, Highway 80, is the J. Verne Smith Parkway.Smith also was a major player in helping BMW Manufacturing Corp. locate near Greer – something he said he's proud to be remembered for."Those jobs are good jobs for our people. They can send their children to college with those jobs," he said.When BMW was trying to buy land, Smith went house-to-house, talking to people who lived on or near the property about their concerns.In some cases, he'd call former Gov. Carroll Campbell and hand the phone to the residents.He knew most of the folks that he visited during that time."They would say to him, 'Verne, if you give me your word, I'll do it.' And they did what he asked because they trusted him," Jean said.He had made a promise to his people, and he was keeping it, he said."From person to politician, I can't think of a finer model or mentor in terms of a true servant leader," said Mayor Rick Danner, who went to Smith for advice when he was considering his run for office."I think that art of seeing beyond just the people that re-elect you often gets lost in modern politics, but he truly has been a champion for the Greer area."Smith shocked a lot of people when he switched to the Republican Party in 2001, a move that gave the Republicans control over the Senate and ousted Greenwood Democrat John Drummond as Senate president pro tem.But the two have remained friends, Drummond said."He's just a young kid," said Drummond, 85, the only serving senator older than Smith.Although he switched parties, Smith said he never abandoned his views."I'm still just as strong for helping people that can't help themselves," he said.That's why he pushed for the J. Verne Smith Human Services Center, which includes local, state and federal human services agencies in one building."That's a good thing. I'm real proud of that," he said.And the folks who work there are thankful for him.Barbara Higgs has worked as a receptionist at the center for more than two years, and she loves visiting with Smith when he comes in."He gives the best hugs," she said.While the center is one his most-rewarding projects, Smith said it's always been about serving the people – old and young.One of his current best friends is his neighbor, 8-year-old Brooke Swafford, who rides her bike to his house to visit with him every chance she gets."She's my buddy," he said."I may have made my money doing something else, but I've made my living being a professional granddaddy."Amanda Ridley can be reached at 877-3225, 574-5980 or amanda.ridley@shj.com.