Jerry Smith

The fact about me that people find most surprising is.

My age. Ill be 71 in February and I just had my first son. Seventy years old and Im a father of my one and only son. He wasnt planned, but what a blessing.

Who would you like to trade lives with for a day?

I never even thought about that, Im happy being me! Ive never thought about trading places with anybody.

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Met face to face? No, I havent, not anybody. Ive seen people perform in person, like I saw Elvis. In that regard, I remember it was a county fair in Clark County that I saw Marty Robbins. That was really something to see him live because at the fair you get to sit real close. I saw Johnny Mathis in concert. And the Oregon State Centennial, Harry Belafonte performed there. I saw him perform and I was still in high school. I think it was 59 and I was just going into my senior year. I was really into his singing. His politics stink, but I didnt know it then. But he was a great performer.

Did you have a favorite teacher in school?

Her name was Jane Webber, she was my junior English teacher. I was not what you would call a good student, but we came into class one day and she had us write a five-minute essay. And I can almost remember, it was like one sentence. I wrote, Looking out the window and seeing the sky criss-cross with a jet vapor trails, I cant help but feel that the birds are even lacking elbow room. And to my surprise, I come into class the next day and she had hung that on the blackboard! I had gotten an A! I read a lot, I always had my nose in a book; when I was in grade school, I was right at the top of class as far as participation. I kind of went my own way after that. But she had this way about her, she could get the best out of you. She had a way of reaching in. She taught because she loved to teach, it wasnt a job for her. Her husband was a dentist, and she designed hats, and they were sold internationally. So like I said, she didnt have to teach. She didnt do it for a job or for the money, she loved to work with kids. Most of the kids loved her.

Who is your favorite character in history?

Ronald Reagan. I think he was a real leader and he inspired confidence, I think, in the country. And the fact that he was a leader who knew how to make people be proud to be Americans again. And to tell you the truth, Im so ashamed of being an American right now that my one allegiance is to my family and friends.

If I ruled the country, I would

Get the government the hell out of healthcare. Thats it. Thats the main thing. To me its just criminal whats going on. You know, when I was a kid, most people didnt even think about the health insurance. You got sick, you went to the doctor and you took care of it. Let the free market work. Right now, the costs of healthcare are just outrageous.

Whats a television show you hate to miss?

OK there is one unfortunately, I was so tired last night I fell asleep, but its called Person of Interest. It has Jim Caviezel in it, and I think hes the best actor around. Hes a terrific actor. He made The Count of Monte Cristo again. When he got started, he was in High Crimes, and of course Morgan Freeman was the star, but he stole the show. Hes from Washington, hes from Mount Vernon. So thats the only TV show right now. Person of Interest Thursday nights at 9 oclock.

If the Peninsula had a uniform, what would it look like?

I cant even imagine that. Well the first thing that came to my mind was a clam shell, so I guess well go with that.

The best cure for a bad day is

Well, to get some good lovin! That was the first thing that came to my mind! When you have a bad day, you know, to make it right before the day is over? That would be the only thing.

Born in Portland, Ore., and raised on a farm just outside Vancouver, Jerry Smith graduated from Hudsons Bay High School. From there he became the manager of his dads shop, The Brakesmith, and later worked in construction, at a paper mill, and Alcoa. He moved to the Peninsula in 1976, where he operated a laundromat and then ran Ocean Parks Kopa Wecoma for about 20 years. In 2001, he opened the Surfside Mini Mart, which he still operates with his wife, Janet. Jerry has four children: Jeri, Marcene, Ila Mae and Lester Wade. His mother, Dorothy Smith, also lives on the Peninsula.