Growing example of service to schools, students

Truman Smith's fascination with gardening started with baseball, but the Cape Girardeau resident's green thumb has now earned him national recognition.

The local retiree loved America's favorite pastime so much, he began helping prepare the field before games at Southeast Missouri State University, where he worked as a history professor.

His interest in landscaping developed around that, so much so that he eventually left his teaching position after tiring of the classroom and began working on buildings and grounds at the university.

After his retirement seven years ago, he took his hobby in a different direction -- volunteer work at local schools. And after six years of nearly constant planting, picking and watering, Smith was recently honored nationally by the Points of Light Foundation.

As part of the award, Smith was recognized as national volunteer of the day Sept. 30 by the organization and his story appeared on the foundation's Web site.

His work at the schools began with a request from his wife, Ruth, now a retired teacher, to redo a flower bed at Jefferson Elementary School. The project grew, and Smith's handiwork can now be seen not just in one flower bed at Jefferson but in many flower beds there and at Alma Schrader Elementary and Central Junior High School.

"It really snowballed," Smith said. "If you start doing anything around kids, they'll get under your skin. I get a lot of energy from them."

Smith also reads with elementary students and helps maintain the baseball and softball fields at Central High School.

"I don't mind bragging about this if it promotes volunteerism," Smith said. "We need to get the older generation involved, make them feel productive. The satisfaction that comes with volunteering, don't pass it up."