95 and still ticking
By Warner M.Montgomery warner@thecolumbiastar.com

Victor M. Smith graduated from Wofford College in 1935. At age 95, he is still a fan.

Victor M. Smith is a remarkable man. He is a healthy 95 years old. He rises early, reads three newspapers, always wears a coat and tie, eats out at Jakie's Barbecue at least once a week, and keeps up with thousands of students who passed through his classrooms during his 41 years as teacher and principal.

Smith and his wife raised three children during their 64 years of marriage. She died in 2002. He now has eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. His daughter, Pollyanna, is married to Tom Davis, a classmate of mine from the Dreher High School class of 1957. It was at her invitation that I went to Florence on March 6 to visit her father.

Smith's résumé reads like a bestselling historical biography. He was born on a farm south of Spartanburg in 1912, graduated from Pauline High School, attended Spartanburg Junior College (then Textile Industrial Institute), and graduated from Wofford College in 1935.

Times were tough, then. He walked ten miles to college everyday, worked on a farm almost every night, and earned an academic scholarship. He received his first paycheck the same day Social Security went into effect.

Victor M. Smith began his teaching career in Abbeville and Swansee, then moved to Florence County where he became teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Teaching and school administration consumed his career beginning in Abbeville, then Swansea, and finally Florence County. Smith began as teacher- principal at Wallace- Gregg School, then in 1945 became principal of Tans Bay School (32 years), and superintendent of Florence County District 14.

Tans Bay School had a unique way of raising money in "the old days." They operated a cannery. The local farmers would bring in fruits and vegetables, and the cannery would process them into tin cans. His daughter, Pollyanna, ran the cannery for several years. She was 12 at the time. "It didn't make much money, but it was a service for the farmers," Smith said.

After consolidation, he served as principal of Tans Bay School and Bonnaire Elementary School.

Victor M. Smith served as teacher- principal of Tans Bay School for 32 years.The school burned in 1972.

To live so long is something to be proud of, but Smith has many other accolades in his long life: agent for Woodmen of the World, Ruritan Club member, Optimist Club member, Scoutmaster, baseball coach, Sunday School teacher for 40 years, and president of Florence County and South Carolina Education Associations.

When Wofford defeated Clemson in 1935, Smith felt the Tigers needed help so he joined IPTAY and began paying $10 a year. "I am still a member, but it is more than $10 now," he says proudly.

He also is a diehard Gamecock supporter. Smith received an autographed football from Lou Holtz on his 85th birthday and another from Steve Spurrier on his 95th birthday last August.

When he was director and president of the SC Education Association, Smith took his family to the national conventions in Portland, Oregon, and Atlantic City, N.J. This was during the 1950s and money was tight, so they camped out on the way. He remembers the family sleeping under the stars in Oklahoma and retreating to the car in Yellowstone Park when a bear attacked their tent.

For many years, he taught history in summer school to make ends meet, a job he loved. "I taught history as a story. It's much better if you can make the past live." he said. He had to stop teaching during the summer when the superintendent decided to save money. "That man could squeeze the buffalo on a nickel and make it holler."

Victor M. Smith is a legend in Florence. As Pollyanna and I travelled around the county, everyone asked about Mr. Smith. "How's your dad? He came by last week and really looked good. We talked about the old days. What a man! He has never forgotten a single student."