STRICTLY BUSINESS: MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON

Mr. Smith is going to Washington.

That's Washington, D.C.

When Ernest Smith lost his job of 20 years ago as a parts salesman -- the company closed operations -- he embarked on a new job search.

It wasn't that easy.

Smith was 86 years old at the time.

Smith had worked as a self-employed mechanic and part-time carpenter for 40 years. He retired at age 65, but tired of the retirement routine after two weeks, taking a job as a parts salesman.

After 20 years, the company sold, and Smith was out of a job.

The search for a new career was a short one, however. McDonald's Restaurant needed a utility man to stock supplies, refill drinks and pick up in the dining area, and Smith was willing to take on the new chores.

This was just over five years ago. Smith, now 90, was recently named Missouri's "Older Worker of the Year" for 1999, and made his first trip to Jefferson City last week to accept his award.

Next on his stop is a visit to the nation's capital, representing Missouri as the state's older worker winner.

Smith's philosophy?

"Anyone who is thinking of retirement should just get a job and stick with it."

Smith is the "senior" employee at the Dexter McDonald's Restaurant, and gets along well his high-school-age co-workers, as well as loyal customers.

"Mr. Smith always dresses in neat attire and is extremely punctual," said McDonald's manager Teresa Moriarty. "He's willing to work beyond his scheduled time if necessary and never complains. He takes time to visit with all the guests."

Smith, said Moriarty, is "a definite asset to this company."

Smith was selected for the older worker honors from 120 nominations statewide.

Held in conjunction with the national "Employ the Older Worker Week," the Missouri Older Worker of the Year selections are designed to promote the hiring of older workers and to recognize the unique contribution that older workers make to the workplace.

The Missouri contest is sponsored by the Missouri Senior Employment Coordinating Committee, which includes a number of organizations -- Division of Job Development and Training, the Division of Aging, the Division of Employment Security, Green Thumb Inc., the Jewish Vocational Services, the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Council on Aging, the U.S. Forest Service and Area Agencies of Aging.

People on the move

When Mathieu Heintz explained some of the reasons for Zenair's selection of Cape Girardeau as a manufacturing site for the new CH2T aircraft, transportation was high on the list of considerations.

"The area has great air, water and land transportation," said Heintz. "For a product like ours, Cape Girardeau is in a great location, nationally."

Heintz is president of Zenair Ltd. of Canada, a manufacturer of light aircraft.

Cape Girardeau's location between two large metropolitan areas -- two hours from St. Louis and three hours from Memphis, Tenn. -- is also a big asset for visitors looking at moving here.

People are interested in moving to Missouri and to Cape Girardeau.

During 1998, more than 4,500 families were moved into the state by one of the nation's largest household movers, United Van Lines. Another 2,379 were moved into the state by Allied Van Lines.

There is a downside to these statistics -- About 8,000 people were moved from Missouri by the same two van lines.

Results of newly released studies by the two van lines, based on more than 500,000 household goods shipments in all 50 states by the two lines, shows Missouri lost about 1,400 people. But, that's about 200 less than a year ago, when the state lost about 1,600.

Missouri is about even in moves over the past five years, which is better than some.

Illinois lost more than 2,000 in 1998, with about 18,400 outbound moves and 16,280 inbound moves.

Kentucky, meanwhile, gained for a second straight year, with 4,165 moves into the state and 3,886 moving out. Arkansas gained 278 people. Tennessee was also among the gainers with more than 53 percent of more than 15,000 moves inbound.

For the second consecutive year, California registered more United Van Lines moves into than out of the state, reaffirming a relocation trends turnaround for the nation's most populous state. Of more than 52,000 moves involving California, 50.7 percent were inbound.

California continues to sweep the nation in the number of relocations crossing its borders -- 52,121 by United and 23,336 by Allied.

Florida meanwhile, recorded its lowest percent of the United inbounds (54 percent) in more than 20 years. However, the Sunshine State still had 8.2 percent more moves into the state than out.

Allied Van moves to California were almost even, with 13,140 going in and 13,196 moving out.

Alaska is also attracting more citizens. Inbound moves more than doubled the outbound moves last year. Combined totals (Allied and United) show 420 inbound moves and 182 outbound moves.

The United's findings are from more than 240,684 total household goods shipments handled in 1998. The Allied survey is based on 266,000 moves.

The moves included all types of household moves, including corporate, individual, residential, government and military business.

United, headquartered at St. Louis, handled moves from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Allied Van, headquartered in Chicago, also included moves in all states and Washington.

The migration trends, as measured by the United survey, tend to mirror economic conditions in various regions. Although the company does not maintain records on why customers are moving, van line officials say there may be a year-to-year "blip" tied to the fortunes of a particular industry. But such motivating factors as regional job opportunities and retirement plans tend to produce consistent trends over longer periods of time."

United Van Lines has conducted its annual survey since 1977. The company has more than 1,000 agents affiliated throughout the United States and the world.

B. Ray Owen is business editori for the Southeast Missourian.