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I lost one of my favorite teachers the other day. Washington High School had many good teachers, but the one who followed my class from eighth grade through twelfth grade was Mr. Carl Smith.

The man was an inspiration to us all. He believed in discipline and integrity above all. I remember when JFK was assassinated in Dallas TX, he corrected one of his students who laughed. His paddles were famous. We had to sign our names on his paddles. One person, Fred Watkins was not afraid to sign the paddle again because his name was already on it. He felt honored!

Jamie Weatherly and I rode with Mr. Smith to Ocracoke Island one long weekend. We camped outside Thursday-Sunday and got to ride in that white Chevrolet with the red interior. We camped outdoors and we ate like never before.

We all should take lessons from Mr. Smith, from raising kids to how our lives have turned out. He was our role model from our formative years in high school. He taught us history in a way that was not forgotten. Tomp Litchfield did not forget it, neither did his brother the late Bill Litchfield. Neither did Paige Davis, nor Gaye Harris, who had the best gum ball tree in her front yard.

He passed away at almost 102 years old and was a role model for his three stepsons and finally, his son Carl Jr. He was a good husband to his wife Gerry, who stayed by his side through thick and thin. He was a schoolteacher for 38 years of his life.

Many a student both boys and girls, learned life lessons from him. He was honored with a Packromak dedicated to him from our Class of 1967.

They were the best of the times with the best of friends and in the best of places Washington, NC. The Original Washington!

Harold Jr.