‘Brotherly love’ creates cruise night
What makes a man great? Is it when he does great things for his community? Is it when he builds great and fast machines? Or is it when he is humble in his endeavors in his life?
The American author and poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox once said, “the man who radiates good cheer, who makes life happier wherever he meets it, is always a man of vision and faith.” Truer words were never spoken of both great men and of Steven Smith, a great man himself.
Indeed, his brother Stuart Smith recalls that he was a man of integrity. He says, “When it wasn’t popular, whatever organization, or group or small circle of friends, whether it be at the church or a city thing or the drag strip if somebody wasn’t talking right or doing right or something bad was fixing to go down, he wasn’t a big man, but he would stand up and stand his ground.”
Friend Clay Collins recalls that, as the new guy in town who married a hometown girl, Steven made him feel right at home and accepted. He recounts the time Steven passed through Collins’ hometown and began sending him pictures. He says, “He went around trying to find a restaurant and he tried to talk to a few people just to see if they knew who I was. And he said, ‘I went down to a memorial building, took a picture of the big digital sign out there and your name’s not on this board here. We went by the post office and your name’s not down there.’ But, he said, ‘I couldn’t find anybody that knew you.’ And it made me feel good. They stopped and spent an hour, hour and a half in my hometown, sending me pictures, trying to, you know, jack with me because he was a funny guy.”
That is why when friend, Steve Quinn Sr, suggested making their car shows in Steven’s honor, there was no hesitation. The community outpouring was more than the three friends could have ever expected. It isn’t just the local community, but also the racing community as well as being respected by many leaders across the country. In all, he was well-loved and well respected. Involved in not only the local Lions Club, but also the Atlanta Economic Development Corporation, Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, served on the Texas delegation, and his church. In the racing community, he set many records but was a jet boat racer and builder by heart.
As a humble man, he let God lead him. The starfish, a mix of the Christian fish and the Jewish star was on every racing vehicle and drag boat he had. His brother says it was a way for him to witness to people. It made people question what it was and he could explain that the Jewish star represents the Old Testament and the fish represents the New Testament. He says, “All the things he did was a way to link a relationship with somebody and lead them to the Lord.”
“He welcomed everybody. He had a heart for people and he had a heart for his community,” says his brother. Truly that is what the Steven Smith Memorial Classic Car Cruise Night is all about. In honor of a man who had a heart bigger than his community. Big enough to care for those he only just met. As they say, a man who never met a stranger. A man who led by humble faith and calm grace.