by David Cross and Al Gibson

Gayle Smith passed away last month.

To those folks younger than 30 years old, Gayle Smith was probably just a name. However, for those somewhat older, Gayle was an Albany institution.

Gayle Smith, with his brother Frederick, ran Smith’s Store (originally “J.B. Smith,” later “J.B. Smith & Sons,” and finally just “Smith’s) on the west side of the Albany square for many years. The business was established by their father, Jim Smith, and when Frederick returned home from the Army (Bronze Star and Purple Heart), he became a mainstay in the business. Gayle, 14 years younger than Frederick, was an outstanding baseball player and went on to Eastern Kentucky State College, where he was a member of the baseball team. He married a local girl, Barbara Jean Allen, who was blessed with a beautiful voice and wonderful disposition. Gayle then went into the Army where he served as an officer in peacetime service. Upon his return, he became a partner in the business of J.B. Smith & Sons. Frederick took care of the grocery side, Gayle the hardware.

Smith’s was one of the last general merchandise stores in Albany, carrying for years both hardware and grocery lines. They sold farm supplies, lawn mowers, and were even International and Farmall tractor dealers. They carried a good line of hardware products, and many people can say they worked at Smith’s as their first job. Cousin Norman Smith went to work selling Porter Paint and stayed until the store closed–(he’s still selling Porter Paint.) Along with Ferguson Brothers and J.H. Cross & Company, they were the most recent successors to the many general stores in Albany as well as those that dotted rural Clinton County: T.V. Stephenson (Albany), Dicken-Sewell & Company (Albany), Mackey Bros. & Company (Highway), I.L. Warinner & Son (Seventy-Six), and E. Luttrell & Co. (Aaron), to name only a few of what were once so numerous.

Upon his discharge from the Army, Gayle stepped into the business and like so many small town merchants, stepped into community affairs as well. He soon was elected to the Albany City Council, serving without pay for several terms. He also became a mainstay of the First Baptist Church, being elected Deacon. He served for many years as a devoted Sunday School teacher, and he took that role very seriously, rarely missing class and having a sincere concern for the boys in his class.

Gayle always kept his car and truck spotless and wore his best clothes to church on Sunday. He took pride in everything he did, trying to do it well. He became a regular on Dale Hollow Lake and when Trooper Island was established, became its most prominent local supporter. He was instrumental in establishing the Trooper Island Ministry of the First Baptist Church, attending each service weekly–a role that has since succeeded to his son, Allen Smith. He also was one of the driving forces in establishing the church’s Wolf River Ministry, and both ministries flourished and have now been in existence for over 40 years.

When Gayle finally retired from the business, he couldn’t be still. He and his devoted wife Barbara moved to Leesburg, Florida, where Gayle became a handyman for the snowbirds, being sure that the seasonal homes were cool and ready for their occasional occupants when they arrived. They took a big hand at the Leesburg Church–as you would expect.

After Barbara’s sudden death, Gayle returned to Kentucky and spent his remaining years in close proximity to the home of his daughter, Vanessa Dunnington, in Monticello. Both Vanessa and Allen demonstrated the same devotion to him as Gayle did to everything he ever did–including the roles of husband and father.

The village shopkeeper and the small town merchant are nearly a thing of the past. Nowadays, we buy at Wal-Mart, Lowe’s or on-line. The general store is nearly a relic of the past, and the big chains have nearly eliminated the “Mom and Pop” operations. Folks will drive 100 miles round trip to buy something which they think they can save a few dollars. I suppose they’ve “already got the gas” to quote one out-of-town shopper.

However, the demise of the small town merchant has cost little towns something else, something far more valuable than anything else lost as a result of the advent of the national chains. In 2012, Main Street U.S.A. is in the aisles of the Super Wal-Mart. But every time you gain something, you lose something else.

What we have lost are the Gayle Smiths of America, the men and women who worked hard all week in their stores and shops, and who gave back to the community whom they owed their living to, serving on town boards at no salary, carrying customers on charge accounts when they knew at some point there would be no money to pay, and donating to every benefit and worthwhile cause that came to their door.

Here’s to Gayle Smith, and to the way he played his role of small town storekeeper and good citizen of our little town.