First published Feb. 1, 1969
He Served …
Carthage is a better community because Virgil Smith chose to make his home here.
In immeasurable ways, he made an indelible impart upon the community and its institutions, producing benefits which will be shared with generations yet to come.
Those of us who worked closely with him during the last dozen years on a multitude of community service projects and in business endeavors knew him to be a wise, calm counselor, sincerely concerned about the welfare of his neighbors and the future of the community.
He was one of those rare individuals of whom it truly can be said: he was a good man; he served us well. Somehow in the time and energy-consuming climb to success in his chosen profession of banking, he found time to devote many long hours to volunteer work on behalf of such groups as the hospital board, the United Fund, civic clubs and other service.
His death came several decades too soon, but he value of his life will be measured by its intensity and its contributions to community welfare and progress, which were tremendous, rather than by its length.
Jaycee Creed …
The creed of the U.S. Jaycees is a valuable document containing ideals which should be held by all Americans.
Jaycees declare, “We believe that faith in God give meaning and purpose to human life, that the brotherhood of man transcends the sovereignty of nations, that economic justice can best be won by free men through free enterprise, that government should be of laws rather than of men, that earth’s great treasure lies in human personality and that service to humanity is the best work of life.”
The new Carthage Jaycee organization, guided by this creed, has made remarkable progress in the brief period of existence.
As a former Jaycee, it is this writer’s hope that such progress with continue and that above all the Jaycee creed will be lifted up constantly before the community as the standard of service for all.
Worth Reading …
The Rev. Wayne Neal, Carthage evangelist, is the author of a religious tract which tells the remarkable story of a former serviceman, his dramatic battlefield experience in Vietnam and his no less dramatic summons to Christian faith.
Subject of the story is Richard Fry, one of three white Marines whose lives were saved when Sgt. Paul Richardson, Negro, fell upon an enemy grenade, dying that they might live.
The Rev. Mr. Neal relates how the battlefield experience made it possible for Fry to understand the meaning of the death of Christ in order that all men might live. It includes description of his contact with a missionary, a trip with the Rev. Mr. Neal and a visit at the Neal home and at First Methodist church here.
This is a tract certainly worth reading because it speaks of eternal matters in direct and practical ways.
Big Business …
Tourism in Missouri is big business – and getter bigger all the time.
Director Will W. Davis of the Missouri Tourism Commission has predicted the state will reap approximately one billion tourist dollars this year.
How many of those dollars will be deposited in Carthage? What about the tourist dollars which will be passing through in the years ahead?
It seems reasonable that the Carthage community with leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and other civic-minded groups ought to be exerting increased effort toward capitalizing on our rich historical heritage and natural recreational potential.
We can’t begin too soon.
