Tim Smith celebrated his 50 year work anniversary at the Smith Companies, which includes Moss Sawmills, Honest Abe Log Homes, GF Hardwoods, Barky Beaver Mulch and Soil Mix, Eco-Panels and Southern Timbercraft.
“Tim said that when he started working with my dad, Doug Smith, 50 years ago, one of his first jobs was to pour concrete in the floor of one of the buildings Dad had purchased to begin his businesses in Moss,” said April Smith Patterson, who owns the Smith Family Companies along with her mother, Janie, and brother Shane.
April said that Tim recalled making the company’s first products, broom handles, and how at that time the lumber was actually worth more before they turned them into broom handles. Hence, the saw milling business was born soon after. Tim said that when first started the only tools he had were an adjustable wrench, pipe wrench, one hammer and one sledge hammer.
“August 1, 1970 was his hire date under Green Forest Wood Products,” April said, adding that at that time he made $1.60 per hour. “In his time here he has driven a loader, has operated the debarker, edged, stacked, managed, performed maintenance, and now 50 years later he is still working as a grade sawyer, the best we’ve ever had!”
Shane Smith calculated about how much lumber Tim had sawn during his 50 years.
“Since 1970, Tim has sawn more than 200 million board feet, which totals around 250,000 trailer loads of lumber,” Shane said, adding that, “Tim would have been the first true employee our dad hired since he started the establishment in 1968.”
The Smith family holds Tim in high regard as did Honest Abe’s founder, the late Doug Smith, who was Tim’s first cousin.
“Tim was and is recognized as one of the best overall employees we’ve ever had,” April said. “We plan to have a celebration for him after covid19 and it’s safe to gather.”