SWEAT AND fatigue weighed upon David Smith as he dragged one foot ahead of the other, the goal within sight. His wife and children cheered as the distance between him and the target grew smaller. Most importantly, as he finally crossed the finish line, he felt the warmth of his father.
Smith smiled — an action that had been the one thing his dad refused to relinquish, up to his last breath a year prior.
Back then, Junior Smith’s muscles were thinning. Movements made limbs ache, throbs spread across his chest, and breathing became a ragged chore as a disease attacked his body, but the Vietnam veteran never gave up the smile — until his body could not keep up with his spirit any longer in 2016.
He left behind a mourning family and a burning fire of determination that flickered within his son.
David, a Tullahoma native, graduated from Lipscomb University and pursued a career in banking. Tullahoma called him back in 2008 to serve at American City Bank. He married Betsy in 2011, and they now have five children. His skills took him to Traders Bank, where he currently works as the regional president.
“I like helping the community,” David said. “There are community needs, there are entrepreneurs, and there are families working to buy homes.”
Such a heart translated into his passion for serving and coaching multiple youth baseball teams in Tullahoma, programs in which his children became heavily involved.
He teaches his players about the importance of accepting failure, learning from defeat, upholding teamwork, working hard, and chasing dreams.
David guides his family in the home according to his beliefs, pointing them toward Jesus Christ. He shares these values with Betsy, a certified public accountant who also involves herself in the community.
David’s impact on his family and city culminated in a very rare feat — a mayor’s declaration of David Smith Day on Oct.13, 2017.
All credit pointed to the testimony of David’s father, who personified a coach, hero, and best friend for his son. The closeness made life that much harder when his father came down with lung cancer at 60 years old in 2011 and died five years later. The death hit hard, but David refused to wallow in sadness. Instead, his dad’s perseverance inspired him to do what he described as the hardest one-day, physical event on the planet.
The Ironman Triathlon is a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run.
David had never attempted a triathlon before. People doubted he could, but he trained two times a day while still making time for his family and staying faithful to his job.
Signing up for the race in 2016, he only gave himself about one year to train for the September 2017 event in Chattanooga.
“I finished the race, crossed the finish line, and I did it in honor of my dad. And I believed he was with me every step of the way.”
Like his father, David bestows strength, positive influence, and a legacy for his children to harness during the toughest times, encouraging others to cross their own finish line. GN
