Smittcamp, Earl, 1993 Leon S. Peters Distinguished Service Award recipient
Item
Title
Smittcamp, Earl, 1993 Leon S. Peters Distinguished Service Award recipient
Description
Talks about growing up in Kerman, attending Fresno State, joining the Marine Corps during World War II, working with Leon S. Peters on boards and committees, including the Fresno State Foundation Board of Governors and being honored to receive the Leon S. Peters Distinguished Service Award. He discusses the importance of work and of giving back to the community and the construction of the Smittcamp Alumni House at Fresno State.
Creator
Smittcamp, Earl
Mehas, Dr. Peter G.
Relation
Leon S. Peters Legacy Collection
Coverage
Fresno, California
Date
2000
Format
Microsoft word 2003 document, 9 pages
Identifier
SCMS_lspl_00003
extracted text
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Earl Smittcamp, Leon Peters recipient, to many of us a
legend in our community. What a delight it is to have you here. For the record:
name, place of birth and date of birth.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Earl Smittcamp. I was born in what is now a community
hospital, then called Burnett Sanitarium. May 5, 1918. That makes me 81 years
old.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was Fresno like growing up as a youngster? Are we the
same as we were then?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I really didn't have much experience in Fresno because I was,
I really grew up out in Kerman. And I'm proud of my Kerman heritage because it's
a very small community. And my most poignant remembrance of course is the ‘30s
because everybody was poor. No one had any money, and no one cared. Raisins were
2 cents a pound. We all had to work hard. I'd have done a hundred jobs from
picking grapes to chopping cotton to doing everything imaginable in especially
my four years in high school at Kerman High. And then as you know I went on to
Fresno State in 1935 to ‘39. Things were so tough I couldn't afford to live in
Fresno, so I got a ride back and forth from, with a Methodist minister's son in
a Willy’s which was about ten years old. And he charged me the magnificent sum
of 10 dollars per month. But all that time I was the janitor of the Bank of
America out in Kerman, so I had to get up about 4:30 in the morning and clean
the spittoons. And that's no easy job at 4:30 in the morning. And so it was an
interesting time. Fresno State had 800 students. I know I wrote a big paper in
order to get an A in some course about the buying habits of 1200 students. I
think we fibbed a little bit. My wife, I met my wife at Fresno State, and we
went together all through college. And so it was a wonderful time, even though
we had no money. But no one else did either, and so it was a great time to grow
up. We learned how to work. We learned how to do without. We learned how to love
one another. We had no crime that I can remember. I mean, the worst thing that
happened was that you might go down Fulton Street at 60 miles an hour. I can't
remember any crime in Fresno. Maybe, I suppose there was some, but I can't very
much remember it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw in his book, "The Greatest Generation,"
describes your generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that fought the Second World War.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that went through the Depression.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that eventually put the man on the moon.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A very, very special generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Leon Peters, Lew Eaton.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Earl Smittcamp.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Are that generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was it, as many of us reflect upon the sacrifice and
as you said the poverty, but what was it that made this generation probably
contribute so much to the America that we now know? And many of us believe we've
been living off the equity of your generation. What was it about this generation
though that you can recall, and I know you're a very modest individual, but for
future generations, what were those characteristics?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I'm proud to have been in that generation. Probably the most,
one of the most proud things that I have done in my lifetime is to join the
United States Marine Corps four months after the declaration, and I served for
four years in the Corps and 30 months in the Marine, the First Marine Division.
And I only say that because I think it epitomizes the generation. You know, 13
million of us served in the service. And then since that time, it's been
difficult to get, you know we've had so much [inaudible], bad press, bad feeling
about Vietnam, you know, but in my generation it was a pride to serve. It was,
we were proud to be part of this, of the American armed services, and I think
that carries over into life. I think if you're willing to give your blood, if
you're willing to give your life for your country, you're certainly willing to
give part of yourself to your community, to your family, to the people that
amount to something, or that's the wrong, to the people in the community
generally. And so I think that, in succession, the tough Depression, the war,
the life after the war when we're all trying to get settled and organized. And
my wife and I bought our farm in 1946 with no money, almost 100 percent
financing from the bank. And we fought and worked and raised four wonderful
children and fourteen grandchildren, I might add, which we're very proud of.
And, but I think it's the basic philosophy of giving; you had to give when you
were making 20 or 25 cents an hour. I mean, you didn't have much to give, so you
gave your time and your effort, my parents did. And then as we get, got older
after through the war you gave of course. I mean, not only did the 13 million
people that served, but all the people that stayed home and served. And Rosie
the Riveter and so forth. And then afterwards, we weren't much better off
financially than we were before. I mean, you know, we were really a long time
getting out of the post-war era. And so it was, I think the, I read the Brokaw
book and I enjoyed it very much because I can see so many of my friends, so many
of my experiences in it. And I think it was a great book, and I'm proud to have
been in this generation.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: So did my uncle who served in the Second World War as
Marines. 19-, 20-, 21-year-old kids that went to war, and yet there was an
incredible reluctancy when they came back not to talk about it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not to glorify it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom --
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You very seldom ->>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom talk about it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And yet the experiences ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of seeing their colleagues die and seeing the
sacrifice.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I was in four massive invasions with the First Marine
Division, and I've seen a lot of my very good friends killed. And I've seen a
lot of the enemy killed. And so it's something that, I'm not a pessimist, I
don't look backward. I'm an optimist by nature, and so that's just a period of
my life that I wouldn't say I'm glad to have gone through, but at least I did go
through it. And now I'm looking forward to the next challenge tomorrow. I'm
always looking for another mountain to climb. I don't know where it's going to
be, but I'm sure there'll be one around.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Were you in the Pacific or the European theater?
>>Earl Smittcamp: No, I was in the Pacific. The Marines spent all their
the Pacific. I was on New Guinea and Cape Gloucester and Peleliu, which
severely injured and I was two months in the hospital there. And then I
I ended up on Okinawa. And the war was over when I was there. So it was
interesting...
time in
I was
end up,
an
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Period of time.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You still recall seeing at Normandy the inscription at the
cemetery, the military cemetery, saying "we gave our todays, so you could enjoy
your tomorrows."
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And I think that's one of the things that our young people
need to remember, that there was an enormous sacrifice ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of people who gave their todays, so we could enjoy our
tomorrows. You knew Lee Peters extremely well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: That's true.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Probably amongst the best.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, we served on the Fresno State, we served on many
committees together, and he was chairman of the Fresno State Foundation Board of
Governors for a number of years, and I served many years with him. And of
course, he gave so much of himself and his life to the community, and that is
the reason that this award is named after him. And I think it's the reason that
so many people are so honored to receive this award. It's the most prestigious
award in Fresno, and I am particularly pleased and honored because I knew him
reasonably well. And I know no one has given more of their life and their time
and their effort. And he worked hard to get, he started as a mighty poor, young
Armenian boy himself, you know? And he gave a lot to the community after he made
his fortune, I guess you would say.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely correct. There are many of us believe that the
Leon Peters Award is the most prestigious award given in the Central Valley, and
it stands for more than just success in business, but philanthropy and giving to
the community. Another characteristic of your generation, of giving.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of giving not only in the Second World War, but continuing
to give. You see the Lew Eatons, the Dick Johansons, the Smittcamps constantly
giving to the community. And so that's what the Leon Peters Award also stands
for. What is it that motivated you and others to give so much and continue to
give to the community?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Oh, I think to a degree you're born with it. I think you're
born with a lot of traits, talk about blue eyes or brown eyes or big physique
like you have. And so but I think you're born with other traits, the trait of
wanting to do something for somebody else, wanting to give. You know, I think to
a degree Leon Peters Award is not overblown, but to a degree it is an award that
epitomizes giving, and that, so the few of us that have been given this award
because we've done a few things that maybe have been noticed. But I go to my
church and I see women who work day after day in the thrift shop or putting
flowers on the altar or, and I just use that as an example. And my own daughters
are so active in the schools and the No on Drugs and the Marjaree Mason Center.
They get really no accolades. And so the, and I haven't done any more in my
community than a million other people. It just so happens that maybe I got my
name in the paper. Or you know, I ran for political office twice and got beat
both times [laughter], so I'm not too famous. And so I'm really not too
wonderful nor am I too particularly successful when it comes to some segments of
my life. I love to point to my daughters and my sons.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: We have two of each who, I know my daughters get up at 6:00 in
the morning and get their kids ready for school, and at 10:00 at night they're
either helping with homework or worrying about some project that they're going
to work on the next day. And I, you, your wife's in the same crib.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: So I, while I'm pleased and honored that I was awarded the
Peters Award, I just think that it just epitomizes something that everybody
should have. Not everybody, because everybody doesn't work as hard as some. But
there's so many people, and as I say, the church and the school and there are so
many activities in our community that it's hard to enumerate all, and it's hard
to really pinpoint all the work. And as you know, Pete, in this public service
job that you have, that you see all these people, the schools for example. And
in my day, when I was, Muriel and I sure don't want to short saying my dear
wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely.
>>Earl Smittcamp: But when we were raising our children before all the
unifications, you know, we trustees just spent lots and lots of time on the
people. We were in potlucks and we were painting the schools. We were doing all
of these jobs, and I started with the Garfield School, a three-teacher school,
and we merged with Dry Creek and made an eight- or nine-teacher school. It was a
magnificent experience. My kids went through that school with one teacher per
class, and we were always doing something for the school. Well you know there's
a multitude of those kind of projects going on right now by thousands of people
in this county.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think it's so important that people continue to give.
Money is not important. I like to quote my friend, Lionel Steinberg, who was a
rabid Democrat, and I'm a rabid Republican of course.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of course.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And Lionel said he could make all the money he needed working
35 percent of his time. And the rest, the other 65 percent of his time he
contributed to his community or his party or, you know, he had a lot of public
service jobs, chairman of the State Board of Agriculture and so forth. And I
think he represents a factor, a segment of our society that is determined in
addition to making money to take care of their material needs they want to do
something for their fellow man.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: We live in a society in which our young people want
instant gratification, instant success. They don't make it quickly, something's
wrong. Another characteristic of your generation is that you labored long and
hard in the fields before success came to you. You experienced many
disappointments. What advice would you give young people today who aspire to be
an Earl Smittcamp, who aspire to be a Lee Peters? What advice would you give
them as they start off in their quest to be a successful business person?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I have a very favorite four letter word, and it's spelled
work. I don't think there's any substitute for work. You have to work at
whatever you do. I know people that have lots of money that still work, work for
somebody else, work for philanthropic enterprises. But if I had to give one
trait. Of course, there's a bunch of them, you know; it all boils down to
character. You have to be honest. You have to have good morals. But you have to
work. You have to get up before the sun comes up, and you have to work after it
goes down. And Pete, you know all about that. I see you to meetings late at
night, and I know you'd rather be at home than attending the meeting because
it's part of your contribution to the public to the job that you have done. But
it's, you know, you could walk out of here at 5:00 and say, "my job's done." You
don't do that. And I think the people that we're talking about that have
received the Peters Award have shown that attribute. They've all been hard
workers that I can think of starting with Lew Eaton and Jim Mayer. And my
friend, Jim Mayer, you know, held two very prestigious jobs over the years, one
as head of Producers Cotton Oil. He was so good that they lured him to Arizona
where he became chairman and the chief executive officer of the largest bank in
the Rocky Mountain area. Now you don't do that by laying on your oars. You have
to work, work hard. And I think kids are getting, I think kids realize that.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I like to point out about my own two daughters, for example,
who packed peaches for four successive years standing on a hard cement floor and
working 12 hours a day all summer without a whimper. And their peers did it. Not
just Betsy and Carol, but all their friends wanted a job. Changed a little bit,
I think. I don't think people are quite so anxious to work so hard. You know,
standing on cement for 12 hours a day is no picnic. But they've made great wives
and great mothers.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think one of the reasons they did it is because they had
to work when they were kids. So if I had to pass on any, and I do, people come
to me and want help and want to borrow money->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I always want to find out, you know, how willing are you
to work your heart out.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You've seen lots of changes in terms of leadership, both
at the federal, state, and local level. Where do you see Fresno going, Fresno
County, our central California area going not only economically but leadershipwise? Are we getting leaders of character, which of course will determine the
economics and jobs and all that area? If you had a crystal ball, where do you
see the future of central California going?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Pete, you know there's going to be more people. That
means that the responsibilities are going to be greater. I think the, as so
often we have our ups and downs in leadership, and I think that we as a society
will prevail. I think we'll find the right people for the right jobs. Sometimes
they aren't particularly what you and I particularly want at that point. And we
get badmouthed occasionally, but I'm not of that ilk. I think we have so much
more to offer than the people who want to put us down that I have great faith in
the future. I have great faith in the people that are coming along. I think
they're, the next mayor, I'm not in Fresno of course, but I'm a constituent of
Chuck Poochigian, for example, and I think there is an outstanding young man.
And I think that he will give us, he's a young man, he will give us great
leadership. Bill Jones another one. And I'm not partisan; I think Whitehurst is
another man of a different political persuasion than I. I think we've got a lot
of good people. I don't know Patterson particularly well, but I think he's done
a good job in a lot of ways. And I know he gets put down occasionally, but I
think he's honest and straight, straightforward and has good character. And so
I'm not too worried about leadership. I think we'll get along in good shape.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Knute Rockne was once quoted as saying, "When the great
scorekeeper records the final game, it matters not who wins or loses but how the
game was played." How does Earl Smittcamp, and you've had many, many good years
watching your tennis game, many good years ahead of you so I'm not recording the
final score now. But how does Earl Smittcamp, who literally is a pillar of our,
and as modest as you are and I know this disturbs you by me saying this, but as
a leader, as a pillar of our community, what do you want people to say when the
final score is recorded about Earl Smittcamp, his family, his career?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think we've discussed probably the key things. I wouldn't
want to live my life any differently than I have lived it. I've lived, I started
out very poor and I worked hard; I've done at all times what I thought was best
for my family and my community. And I hope that people will say, "well, he
didn't do everything right, but he did a lot of good things for a number of
people." And if they'll say that about me, I'll be very happy. I'm very
optimistic about the future. I might be 81 years old, but I'm not through
working. If there's another mountain to climb and it looks advantageous to me
and looks like fun, I'll do it. And then the land out there in Clovis, I'm going
to do some personal subdividing, and that's, I did a 40-acre piece that was kind
of fun with Bill, our youngest son and I did it. And Bob, our oldest son, is
doing a little subdividing at the present time, so there's a lot to be done and,
you know, I'm very active at St. Agnes and very active at Fresno State
University. And I'm very proud to be a part of both those institutions. And
there's a lot of work to be done at both those places, too. I don't think
there's any, I'm going to have any trouble finding something to do.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I would be remiss if I had, if I didn't mention the
Smittcamp Alumni House which is, as we speak, under construction.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not only does it epitomize the Smittcamp family, it's done
with dignity, it's done with class. How did you get involved with that? Of
course being an alumnus.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Sure.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But it is just, for years to come, generations are going
to reap the benefit of it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Bill Forbes, another friend of yours and a staunch
alumnus and I kept playing tennis, and he kept bugging me that he wanted a
million dollars. [laughter] And I was in shock, really, that anybody would ever
ask me for that kind of money. But little by little he worked on me and of
course Harold Haak worked on me a little bit. But really the guy that really did
the trick was John Welty. And I'm a real fan of John Welty's; I think he's done
a fine job as president of the university. He works day and night at the job.
And we as a family have done this together, and once again I think it's a
tribute to how we were raised and how we think that we want to do something for
somebody else. And I think all of our children are of this mode, and we're just
kind of thrilled that we're able to be able to do it. And we know it's going to
be an attribute to the university. Most important, we think it's going to help
bring the alumni of Fresno State to common grounds, a place we can meet and talk
and dream and plan for the future of the university. You know we have a great
university, a lot better than a lot of people give us credit for. I'm awful
proud to be a graduate, and all of our four children are graduates of Fresno
State and both of our daughter-in-laws, so we're very, very proud of Fresno
State University and proud of the small part we've played.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And lastly, when people talk about Fresno, the central
area, and talk about Mr. Republican, there are a lot of prominent elected
Republicans, but the name that is always mentioned when they say, "Who is Mr.
Republican still, and has been for a long time?" They mentioned Earl Smittcamp!
The Earl Smittcamp name is, for years, has been associated with Mr. Republican.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think that's a slight exaggeration, maybe a major
exaggeration. I believe the political structure of our country and our county
and various subdivisions is so awfully important. I've walked a lot of precincts
for a lot of people. No money. Doesn’t need a lot of money. You know, men,
really are lousy politicians, because they're too lazy to get out and walk
precincts. And I'm not in that mode. I've walked precincts for a lot of -someone, Sharon Levy, for example, she won; Wes Craven, where I walked precincts
for him, he lost after a year or a term or two. So while we have contributed
some money over time, I think it's the interest that shows that I'm really
interested. I'm interested in every political office. You know what? We have
something in our ballot in Clovis tomorrow, or the [inaudible]. There's only one
issue, and it's the Kings River Water District. I don't know either one. I'm
going to go vote. Don't know who I'm going to vote for yet, but I've never not
voted in a single election in my entire life, including the time I was in the
service. I voted by absentee ballot. So I, I'm proud to be a citizen and vote
and work in the system. I am a Republican, but I do, I do believe in voting and
working for the person I believe is right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, in summary, the poet, Popham, I believe, that said,
"There is a destiny that makes us brothers; none go his way alone. All that we
send in the lives of others come back into our own." And certainly Muriel and
Earl and the Smittcamp family have given a great deal -- not money, but a great
deal in the form of character and leadership to our community. So on behalf of
the Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Business Committee, which I'm a member
of, we thank you for who you are and a lifetime of achievement.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Thank you. I hope I've mentioned my wife enough, because my
wife has been so very important about everything that I've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: How many years have you been married now, Earl?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Fifty-nine years, sixty our next anniversary. And Muriel and I
went together all through college, so it's been a wonderful love affair, and
everything I've said about my life and my children's lives and my grandchildren
and so forth, my wife has been a, very much an integral part.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her maiden name?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Was Schmeiser.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Schmeiser.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And he was a prominent republican.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Much more prominent than I, really. [laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her sister?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Muriel's sister is Mavis Koontz, Kermit Koontz's wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right. That's [inaudible] as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right, right. And she had an older sister that's now ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Older sister as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: -- been deceased, yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, congratulations, and what a delight to finally get
you here, and finally get you [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: I did it just according to the letter!
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay, that's good. Thanks, [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: Letter says, "Show at 1:00 o'clock"; here I am! Thanks, Pete.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you, Earl. Semper Fi!
>>Earl Smittcamp: Semper Fi. [laughs]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====
legend in our community. What a delight it is to have you here. For the record:
name, place of birth and date of birth.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Earl Smittcamp. I was born in what is now a community
hospital, then called Burnett Sanitarium. May 5, 1918. That makes me 81 years
old.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was Fresno like growing up as a youngster? Are we the
same as we were then?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I really didn't have much experience in Fresno because I was,
I really grew up out in Kerman. And I'm proud of my Kerman heritage because it's
a very small community. And my most poignant remembrance of course is the ‘30s
because everybody was poor. No one had any money, and no one cared. Raisins were
2 cents a pound. We all had to work hard. I'd have done a hundred jobs from
picking grapes to chopping cotton to doing everything imaginable in especially
my four years in high school at Kerman High. And then as you know I went on to
Fresno State in 1935 to ‘39. Things were so tough I couldn't afford to live in
Fresno, so I got a ride back and forth from, with a Methodist minister's son in
a Willy’s which was about ten years old. And he charged me the magnificent sum
of 10 dollars per month. But all that time I was the janitor of the Bank of
America out in Kerman, so I had to get up about 4:30 in the morning and clean
the spittoons. And that's no easy job at 4:30 in the morning. And so it was an
interesting time. Fresno State had 800 students. I know I wrote a big paper in
order to get an A in some course about the buying habits of 1200 students. I
think we fibbed a little bit. My wife, I met my wife at Fresno State, and we
went together all through college. And so it was a wonderful time, even though
we had no money. But no one else did either, and so it was a great time to grow
up. We learned how to work. We learned how to do without. We learned how to love
one another. We had no crime that I can remember. I mean, the worst thing that
happened was that you might go down Fulton Street at 60 miles an hour. I can't
remember any crime in Fresno. Maybe, I suppose there was some, but I can't very
much remember it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw in his book, "The Greatest Generation,"
describes your generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that fought the Second World War.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that went through the Depression.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that eventually put the man on the moon.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A very, very special generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Leon Peters, Lew Eaton.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Earl Smittcamp.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Are that generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was it, as many of us reflect upon the sacrifice and
as you said the poverty, but what was it that made this generation probably
contribute so much to the America that we now know? And many of us believe we've
been living off the equity of your generation. What was it about this generation
though that you can recall, and I know you're a very modest individual, but for
future generations, what were those characteristics?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I'm proud to have been in that generation. Probably the most,
one of the most proud things that I have done in my lifetime is to join the
United States Marine Corps four months after the declaration, and I served for
four years in the Corps and 30 months in the Marine, the First Marine Division.
And I only say that because I think it epitomizes the generation. You know, 13
million of us served in the service. And then since that time, it's been
difficult to get, you know we've had so much [inaudible], bad press, bad feeling
about Vietnam, you know, but in my generation it was a pride to serve. It was,
we were proud to be part of this, of the American armed services, and I think
that carries over into life. I think if you're willing to give your blood, if
you're willing to give your life for your country, you're certainly willing to
give part of yourself to your community, to your family, to the people that
amount to something, or that's the wrong, to the people in the community
generally. And so I think that, in succession, the tough Depression, the war,
the life after the war when we're all trying to get settled and organized. And
my wife and I bought our farm in 1946 with no money, almost 100 percent
financing from the bank. And we fought and worked and raised four wonderful
children and fourteen grandchildren, I might add, which we're very proud of.
And, but I think it's the basic philosophy of giving; you had to give when you
were making 20 or 25 cents an hour. I mean, you didn't have much to give, so you
gave your time and your effort, my parents did. And then as we get, got older
after through the war you gave of course. I mean, not only did the 13 million
people that served, but all the people that stayed home and served. And Rosie
the Riveter and so forth. And then afterwards, we weren't much better off
financially than we were before. I mean, you know, we were really a long time
getting out of the post-war era. And so it was, I think the, I read the Brokaw
book and I enjoyed it very much because I can see so many of my friends, so many
of my experiences in it. And I think it was a great book, and I'm proud to have
been in this generation.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: So did my uncle who served in the Second World War as
Marines. 19-, 20-, 21-year-old kids that went to war, and yet there was an
incredible reluctancy when they came back not to talk about it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not to glorify it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom --
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You very seldom ->>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom talk about it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And yet the experiences ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of seeing their colleagues die and seeing the
sacrifice.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I was in four massive invasions with the First Marine
Division, and I've seen a lot of my very good friends killed. And I've seen a
lot of the enemy killed. And so it's something that, I'm not a pessimist, I
don't look backward. I'm an optimist by nature, and so that's just a period of
my life that I wouldn't say I'm glad to have gone through, but at least I did go
through it. And now I'm looking forward to the next challenge tomorrow. I'm
always looking for another mountain to climb. I don't know where it's going to
be, but I'm sure there'll be one around.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Were you in the Pacific or the European theater?
>>Earl Smittcamp: No, I was in the Pacific. The Marines spent all their
the Pacific. I was on New Guinea and Cape Gloucester and Peleliu, which
severely injured and I was two months in the hospital there. And then I
I ended up on Okinawa. And the war was over when I was there. So it was
interesting...
time in
I was
end up,
an
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Period of time.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You still recall seeing at Normandy the inscription at the
cemetery, the military cemetery, saying "we gave our todays, so you could enjoy
your tomorrows."
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And I think that's one of the things that our young people
need to remember, that there was an enormous sacrifice ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of people who gave their todays, so we could enjoy our
tomorrows. You knew Lee Peters extremely well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: That's true.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Probably amongst the best.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, we served on the Fresno State, we served on many
committees together, and he was chairman of the Fresno State Foundation Board of
Governors for a number of years, and I served many years with him. And of
course, he gave so much of himself and his life to the community, and that is
the reason that this award is named after him. And I think it's the reason that
so many people are so honored to receive this award. It's the most prestigious
award in Fresno, and I am particularly pleased and honored because I knew him
reasonably well. And I know no one has given more of their life and their time
and their effort. And he worked hard to get, he started as a mighty poor, young
Armenian boy himself, you know? And he gave a lot to the community after he made
his fortune, I guess you would say.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely correct. There are many of us believe that the
Leon Peters Award is the most prestigious award given in the Central Valley, and
it stands for more than just success in business, but philanthropy and giving to
the community. Another characteristic of your generation, of giving.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of giving not only in the Second World War, but continuing
to give. You see the Lew Eatons, the Dick Johansons, the Smittcamps constantly
giving to the community. And so that's what the Leon Peters Award also stands
for. What is it that motivated you and others to give so much and continue to
give to the community?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Oh, I think to a degree you're born with it. I think you're
born with a lot of traits, talk about blue eyes or brown eyes or big physique
like you have. And so but I think you're born with other traits, the trait of
wanting to do something for somebody else, wanting to give. You know, I think to
a degree Leon Peters Award is not overblown, but to a degree it is an award that
epitomizes giving, and that, so the few of us that have been given this award
because we've done a few things that maybe have been noticed. But I go to my
church and I see women who work day after day in the thrift shop or putting
flowers on the altar or, and I just use that as an example. And my own daughters
are so active in the schools and the No on Drugs and the Marjaree Mason Center.
They get really no accolades. And so the, and I haven't done any more in my
community than a million other people. It just so happens that maybe I got my
name in the paper. Or you know, I ran for political office twice and got beat
both times [laughter], so I'm not too famous. And so I'm really not too
wonderful nor am I too particularly successful when it comes to some segments of
my life. I love to point to my daughters and my sons.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: We have two of each who, I know my daughters get up at 6:00 in
the morning and get their kids ready for school, and at 10:00 at night they're
either helping with homework or worrying about some project that they're going
to work on the next day. And I, you, your wife's in the same crib.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: So I, while I'm pleased and honored that I was awarded the
Peters Award, I just think that it just epitomizes something that everybody
should have. Not everybody, because everybody doesn't work as hard as some. But
there's so many people, and as I say, the church and the school and there are so
many activities in our community that it's hard to enumerate all, and it's hard
to really pinpoint all the work. And as you know, Pete, in this public service
job that you have, that you see all these people, the schools for example. And
in my day, when I was, Muriel and I sure don't want to short saying my dear
wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely.
>>Earl Smittcamp: But when we were raising our children before all the
unifications, you know, we trustees just spent lots and lots of time on the
people. We were in potlucks and we were painting the schools. We were doing all
of these jobs, and I started with the Garfield School, a three-teacher school,
and we merged with Dry Creek and made an eight- or nine-teacher school. It was a
magnificent experience. My kids went through that school with one teacher per
class, and we were always doing something for the school. Well you know there's
a multitude of those kind of projects going on right now by thousands of people
in this county.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think it's so important that people continue to give.
Money is not important. I like to quote my friend, Lionel Steinberg, who was a
rabid Democrat, and I'm a rabid Republican of course.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of course.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And Lionel said he could make all the money he needed working
35 percent of his time. And the rest, the other 65 percent of his time he
contributed to his community or his party or, you know, he had a lot of public
service jobs, chairman of the State Board of Agriculture and so forth. And I
think he represents a factor, a segment of our society that is determined in
addition to making money to take care of their material needs they want to do
something for their fellow man.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: We live in a society in which our young people want
instant gratification, instant success. They don't make it quickly, something's
wrong. Another characteristic of your generation is that you labored long and
hard in the fields before success came to you. You experienced many
disappointments. What advice would you give young people today who aspire to be
an Earl Smittcamp, who aspire to be a Lee Peters? What advice would you give
them as they start off in their quest to be a successful business person?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I have a very favorite four letter word, and it's spelled
work. I don't think there's any substitute for work. You have to work at
whatever you do. I know people that have lots of money that still work, work for
somebody else, work for philanthropic enterprises. But if I had to give one
trait. Of course, there's a bunch of them, you know; it all boils down to
character. You have to be honest. You have to have good morals. But you have to
work. You have to get up before the sun comes up, and you have to work after it
goes down. And Pete, you know all about that. I see you to meetings late at
night, and I know you'd rather be at home than attending the meeting because
it's part of your contribution to the public to the job that you have done. But
it's, you know, you could walk out of here at 5:00 and say, "my job's done." You
don't do that. And I think the people that we're talking about that have
received the Peters Award have shown that attribute. They've all been hard
workers that I can think of starting with Lew Eaton and Jim Mayer. And my
friend, Jim Mayer, you know, held two very prestigious jobs over the years, one
as head of Producers Cotton Oil. He was so good that they lured him to Arizona
where he became chairman and the chief executive officer of the largest bank in
the Rocky Mountain area. Now you don't do that by laying on your oars. You have
to work, work hard. And I think kids are getting, I think kids realize that.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I like to point out about my own two daughters, for example,
who packed peaches for four successive years standing on a hard cement floor and
working 12 hours a day all summer without a whimper. And their peers did it. Not
just Betsy and Carol, but all their friends wanted a job. Changed a little bit,
I think. I don't think people are quite so anxious to work so hard. You know,
standing on cement for 12 hours a day is no picnic. But they've made great wives
and great mothers.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think one of the reasons they did it is because they had
to work when they were kids. So if I had to pass on any, and I do, people come
to me and want help and want to borrow money->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I always want to find out, you know, how willing are you
to work your heart out.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You've seen lots of changes in terms of leadership, both
at the federal, state, and local level. Where do you see Fresno going, Fresno
County, our central California area going not only economically but leadershipwise? Are we getting leaders of character, which of course will determine the
economics and jobs and all that area? If you had a crystal ball, where do you
see the future of central California going?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Pete, you know there's going to be more people. That
means that the responsibilities are going to be greater. I think the, as so
often we have our ups and downs in leadership, and I think that we as a society
will prevail. I think we'll find the right people for the right jobs. Sometimes
they aren't particularly what you and I particularly want at that point. And we
get badmouthed occasionally, but I'm not of that ilk. I think we have so much
more to offer than the people who want to put us down that I have great faith in
the future. I have great faith in the people that are coming along. I think
they're, the next mayor, I'm not in Fresno of course, but I'm a constituent of
Chuck Poochigian, for example, and I think there is an outstanding young man.
And I think that he will give us, he's a young man, he will give us great
leadership. Bill Jones another one. And I'm not partisan; I think Whitehurst is
another man of a different political persuasion than I. I think we've got a lot
of good people. I don't know Patterson particularly well, but I think he's done
a good job in a lot of ways. And I know he gets put down occasionally, but I
think he's honest and straight, straightforward and has good character. And so
I'm not too worried about leadership. I think we'll get along in good shape.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Knute Rockne was once quoted as saying, "When the great
scorekeeper records the final game, it matters not who wins or loses but how the
game was played." How does Earl Smittcamp, and you've had many, many good years
watching your tennis game, many good years ahead of you so I'm not recording the
final score now. But how does Earl Smittcamp, who literally is a pillar of our,
and as modest as you are and I know this disturbs you by me saying this, but as
a leader, as a pillar of our community, what do you want people to say when the
final score is recorded about Earl Smittcamp, his family, his career?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think we've discussed probably the key things. I wouldn't
want to live my life any differently than I have lived it. I've lived, I started
out very poor and I worked hard; I've done at all times what I thought was best
for my family and my community. And I hope that people will say, "well, he
didn't do everything right, but he did a lot of good things for a number of
people." And if they'll say that about me, I'll be very happy. I'm very
optimistic about the future. I might be 81 years old, but I'm not through
working. If there's another mountain to climb and it looks advantageous to me
and looks like fun, I'll do it. And then the land out there in Clovis, I'm going
to do some personal subdividing, and that's, I did a 40-acre piece that was kind
of fun with Bill, our youngest son and I did it. And Bob, our oldest son, is
doing a little subdividing at the present time, so there's a lot to be done and,
you know, I'm very active at St. Agnes and very active at Fresno State
University. And I'm very proud to be a part of both those institutions. And
there's a lot of work to be done at both those places, too. I don't think
there's any, I'm going to have any trouble finding something to do.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I would be remiss if I had, if I didn't mention the
Smittcamp Alumni House which is, as we speak, under construction.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not only does it epitomize the Smittcamp family, it's done
with dignity, it's done with class. How did you get involved with that? Of
course being an alumnus.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Sure.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But it is just, for years to come, generations are going
to reap the benefit of it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Bill Forbes, another friend of yours and a staunch
alumnus and I kept playing tennis, and he kept bugging me that he wanted a
million dollars. [laughter] And I was in shock, really, that anybody would ever
ask me for that kind of money. But little by little he worked on me and of
course Harold Haak worked on me a little bit. But really the guy that really did
the trick was John Welty. And I'm a real fan of John Welty's; I think he's done
a fine job as president of the university. He works day and night at the job.
And we as a family have done this together, and once again I think it's a
tribute to how we were raised and how we think that we want to do something for
somebody else. And I think all of our children are of this mode, and we're just
kind of thrilled that we're able to be able to do it. And we know it's going to
be an attribute to the university. Most important, we think it's going to help
bring the alumni of Fresno State to common grounds, a place we can meet and talk
and dream and plan for the future of the university. You know we have a great
university, a lot better than a lot of people give us credit for. I'm awful
proud to be a graduate, and all of our four children are graduates of Fresno
State and both of our daughter-in-laws, so we're very, very proud of Fresno
State University and proud of the small part we've played.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And lastly, when people talk about Fresno, the central
area, and talk about Mr. Republican, there are a lot of prominent elected
Republicans, but the name that is always mentioned when they say, "Who is Mr.
Republican still, and has been for a long time?" They mentioned Earl Smittcamp!
The Earl Smittcamp name is, for years, has been associated with Mr. Republican.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think that's a slight exaggeration, maybe a major
exaggeration. I believe the political structure of our country and our county
and various subdivisions is so awfully important. I've walked a lot of precincts
for a lot of people. No money. Doesn’t need a lot of money. You know, men,
really are lousy politicians, because they're too lazy to get out and walk
precincts. And I'm not in that mode. I've walked precincts for a lot of -someone, Sharon Levy, for example, she won; Wes Craven, where I walked precincts
for him, he lost after a year or a term or two. So while we have contributed
some money over time, I think it's the interest that shows that I'm really
interested. I'm interested in every political office. You know what? We have
something in our ballot in Clovis tomorrow, or the [inaudible]. There's only one
issue, and it's the Kings River Water District. I don't know either one. I'm
going to go vote. Don't know who I'm going to vote for yet, but I've never not
voted in a single election in my entire life, including the time I was in the
service. I voted by absentee ballot. So I, I'm proud to be a citizen and vote
and work in the system. I am a Republican, but I do, I do believe in voting and
working for the person I believe is right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, in summary, the poet, Popham, I believe, that said,
"There is a destiny that makes us brothers; none go his way alone. All that we
send in the lives of others come back into our own." And certainly Muriel and
Earl and the Smittcamp family have given a great deal -- not money, but a great
deal in the form of character and leadership to our community. So on behalf of
the Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Business Committee, which I'm a member
of, we thank you for who you are and a lifetime of achievement.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Thank you. I hope I've mentioned my wife enough, because my
wife has been so very important about everything that I've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: How many years have you been married now, Earl?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Fifty-nine years, sixty our next anniversary. And Muriel and I
went together all through college, so it's been a wonderful love affair, and
everything I've said about my life and my children's lives and my grandchildren
and so forth, my wife has been a, very much an integral part.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her maiden name?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Was Schmeiser.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Schmeiser.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And he was a prominent republican.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Much more prominent than I, really. [laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her sister?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Muriel's sister is Mavis Koontz, Kermit Koontz's wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right. That's [inaudible] as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right, right. And she had an older sister that's now ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Older sister as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: -- been deceased, yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, congratulations, and what a delight to finally get
you here, and finally get you [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: I did it just according to the letter!
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay, that's good. Thanks, [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: Letter says, "Show at 1:00 o'clock"; here I am! Thanks, Pete.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you, Earl. Semper Fi!
>>Earl Smittcamp: Semper Fi. [laughs]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Earl Smittcamp, Leon Peters recipient, to many of us a
legend in our community. What a delight it is to have you here. For the record:
name, place of birth and date of birth.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Earl Smittcamp. I was born in what is now a community
hospital, then called Burnett Sanitarium. May 5, 1918. That makes me 81 years
old.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was Fresno like growing up as a youngster? Are we the
same as we were then?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I really didn't have much experience in Fresno because I was,
I really grew up out in Kerman. And I'm proud of my Kerman heritage because it's
a very small community. And my most poignant remembrance of course is the ‘30s
because everybody was poor. No one had any money, and no one cared. Raisins were
2 cents a pound. We all had to work hard. I'd have done a hundred jobs from
picking grapes to chopping cotton to doing everything imaginable in especially
my four years in high school at Kerman High. And then as you know I went on to
Fresno State in 1935 to ‘39. Things were so tough I couldn't afford to live in
Fresno, so I got a ride back and forth from, with a Methodist minister's son in
a Willy’s which was about ten years old. And he charged me the magnificent sum
of 10 dollars per month. But all that time I was the janitor of the Bank of
America out in Kerman, so I had to get up about 4:30 in the morning and clean
the spittoons. And that's no easy job at 4:30 in the morning. And so it was an
interesting time. Fresno State had 800 students. I know I wrote a big paper in
order to get an A in some course about the buying habits of 1200 students. I
think we fibbed a little bit. My wife, I met my wife at Fresno State, and we
went together all through college. And so it was a wonderful time, even though
we had no money. But no one else did either, and so it was a great time to grow
up. We learned how to work. We learned how to do without. We learned how to love
one another. We had no crime that I can remember. I mean, the worst thing that
happened was that you might go down Fulton Street at 60 miles an hour. I can't
remember any crime in Fresno. Maybe, I suppose there was some, but I can't very
much remember it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw in his book, "The Greatest Generation,"
describes your generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that fought the Second World War.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that went through the Depression.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that eventually put the man on the moon.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A very, very special generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Leon Peters, Lew Eaton.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Earl Smittcamp.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Are that generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was it, as many of us reflect upon the sacrifice and
as you said the poverty, but what was it that made this generation probably
contribute so much to the America that we now know? And many of us believe we've
been living off the equity of your generation. What was it about this generation
though that you can recall, and I know you're a very modest individual, but for
future generations, what were those characteristics?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I'm proud to have been in that generation. Probably the most,
one of the most proud things that I have done in my lifetime is to join the
United States Marine Corps four months after the declaration, and I served for
four years in the Corps and 30 months in the Marine, the First Marine Division.
And I only say that because I think it epitomizes the generation. You know, 13
million of us served in the service. And then since that time, it's been
difficult to get, you know we've had so much [inaudible], bad press, bad feeling
about Vietnam, you know, but in my generation it was a pride to serve. It was,
we were proud to be part of this, of the American armed services, and I think
that carries over into life. I think if you're willing to give your blood, if
you're willing to give your life for your country, you're certainly willing to
give part of yourself to your community, to your family, to the people that
amount to something, or that's the wrong, to the people in the community
generally. And so I think that, in succession, the tough Depression, the war,
the life after the war when we're all trying to get settled and organized. And
my wife and I bought our farm in 1946 with no money, almost 100 percent
financing from the bank. And we fought and worked and raised four wonderful
children and fourteen grandchildren, I might add, which we're very proud of.
And, but I think it's the basic philosophy of giving; you had to give when you
were making 20 or 25 cents an hour. I mean, you didn't have much to give, so you
gave your time and your effort, my parents did. And then as we get, got older
after through the war you gave of course. I mean, not only did the 13 million
people that served, but all the people that stayed home and served. And Rosie
the Riveter and so forth. And then afterwards, we weren't much better off
financially than we were before. I mean, you know, we were really a long time
getting out of the post-war era. And so it was, I think the, I read the Brokaw
book and I enjoyed it very much because I can see so many of my friends, so many
of my experiences in it. And I think it was a great book, and I'm proud to have
been in this generation.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: So did my uncle who served in the Second World War as
Marines. 19-, 20-, 21-year-old kids that went to war, and yet there was an
incredible reluctancy when they came back not to talk about it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not to glorify it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom --
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You very seldom ->>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom talk about it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And yet the experiences ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of seeing their colleagues die and seeing the
sacrifice.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I was in four massive invasions with the First Marine
Division, and I've seen a lot of my very good friends killed. And I've seen a
lot of the enemy killed. And so it's something that, I'm not a pessimist, I
don't look backward. I'm an optimist by nature, and so that's just a period of
my life that I wouldn't say I'm glad to have gone through, but at least I did go
through it. And now I'm looking forward to the next challenge tomorrow. I'm
always looking for another mountain to climb. I don't know where it's going to
be, but I'm sure there'll be one around.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Were you in the Pacific or the European theater?
>>Earl Smittcamp: No, I was in the Pacific. The Marines spent all their
the Pacific. I was on New Guinea and Cape Gloucester and Peleliu, which
severely injured and I was two months in the hospital there. And then I
I ended up on Okinawa. And the war was over when I was there. So it was
interesting...
time in
I was
end up,
an
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Period of time.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You still recall seeing at Normandy the inscription at the
cemetery, the military cemetery, saying "we gave our todays, so you could enjoy
your tomorrows."
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And I think that's one of the things that our young people
need to remember, that there was an enormous sacrifice ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of people who gave their todays, so we could enjoy our
tomorrows. You knew Lee Peters extremely well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: That's true.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Probably amongst the best.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, we served on the Fresno State, we served on many
committees together, and he was chairman of the Fresno State Foundation Board of
Governors for a number of years, and I served many years with him. And of
course, he gave so much of himself and his life to the community, and that is
the reason that this award is named after him. And I think it's the reason that
so many people are so honored to receive this award. It's the most prestigious
award in Fresno, and I am particularly pleased and honored because I knew him
reasonably well. And I know no one has given more of their life and their time
and their effort. And he worked hard to get, he started as a mighty poor, young
Armenian boy himself, you know? And he gave a lot to the community after he made
his fortune, I guess you would say.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely correct. There are many of us believe that the
Leon Peters Award is the most prestigious award given in the Central Valley, and
it stands for more than just success in business, but philanthropy and giving to
the community. Another characteristic of your generation, of giving.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of giving not only in the Second World War, but continuing
to give. You see the Lew Eatons, the Dick Johansons, the Smittcamps constantly
giving to the community. And so that's what the Leon Peters Award also stands
for. What is it that motivated you and others to give so much and continue to
give to the community?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Oh, I think to a degree you're born with it. I think you're
born with a lot of traits, talk about blue eyes or brown eyes or big physique
like you have. And so but I think you're born with other traits, the trait of
wanting to do something for somebody else, wanting to give. You know, I think to
a degree Leon Peters Award is not overblown, but to a degree it is an award that
epitomizes giving, and that, so the few of us that have been given this award
because we've done a few things that maybe have been noticed. But I go to my
church and I see women who work day after day in the thrift shop or putting
flowers on the altar or, and I just use that as an example. And my own daughters
are so active in the schools and the No on Drugs and the Marjaree Mason Center.
They get really no accolades. And so the, and I haven't done any more in my
community than a million other people. It just so happens that maybe I got my
name in the paper. Or you know, I ran for political office twice and got beat
both times [laughter], so I'm not too famous. And so I'm really not too
wonderful nor am I too particularly successful when it comes to some segments of
my life. I love to point to my daughters and my sons.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: We have two of each who, I know my daughters get up at 6:00 in
the morning and get their kids ready for school, and at 10:00 at night they're
either helping with homework or worrying about some project that they're going
to work on the next day. And I, you, your wife's in the same crib.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: So I, while I'm pleased and honored that I was awarded the
Peters Award, I just think that it just epitomizes something that everybody
should have. Not everybody, because everybody doesn't work as hard as some. But
there's so many people, and as I say, the church and the school and there are so
many activities in our community that it's hard to enumerate all, and it's hard
to really pinpoint all the work. And as you know, Pete, in this public service
job that you have, that you see all these people, the schools for example. And
in my day, when I was, Muriel and I sure don't want to short saying my dear
wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely.
>>Earl Smittcamp: But when we were raising our children before all the
unifications, you know, we trustees just spent lots and lots of time on the
people. We were in potlucks and we were painting the schools. We were doing all
of these jobs, and I started with the Garfield School, a three-teacher school,
and we merged with Dry Creek and made an eight- or nine-teacher school. It was a
magnificent experience. My kids went through that school with one teacher per
class, and we were always doing something for the school. Well you know there's
a multitude of those kind of projects going on right now by thousands of people
in this county.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think it's so important that people continue to give.
Money is not important. I like to quote my friend, Lionel Steinberg, who was a
rabid Democrat, and I'm a rabid Republican of course.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of course.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And Lionel said he could make all the money he needed working
35 percent of his time. And the rest, the other 65 percent of his time he
contributed to his community or his party or, you know, he had a lot of public
service jobs, chairman of the State Board of Agriculture and so forth. And I
think he represents a factor, a segment of our society that is determined in
addition to making money to take care of their material needs they want to do
something for their fellow man.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: We live in a society in which our young people want
instant gratification, instant success. They don't make it quickly, something's
wrong. Another characteristic of your generation is that you labored long and
hard in the fields before success came to you. You experienced many
disappointments. What advice would you give young people today who aspire to be
an Earl Smittcamp, who aspire to be a Lee Peters? What advice would you give
them as they start off in their quest to be a successful business person?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I have a very favorite four letter word, and it's spelled
work. I don't think there's any substitute for work. You have to work at
whatever you do. I know people that have lots of money that still work, work for
somebody else, work for philanthropic enterprises. But if I had to give one
trait. Of course, there's a bunch of them, you know; it all boils down to
character. You have to be honest. You have to have good morals. But you have to
work. You have to get up before the sun comes up, and you have to work after it
goes down. And Pete, you know all about that. I see you to meetings late at
night, and I know you'd rather be at home than attending the meeting because
it's part of your contribution to the public to the job that you have done. But
it's, you know, you could walk out of here at 5:00 and say, "my job's done." You
don't do that. And I think the people that we're talking about that have
received the Peters Award have shown that attribute. They've all been hard
workers that I can think of starting with Lew Eaton and Jim Mayer. And my
friend, Jim Mayer, you know, held two very prestigious jobs over the years, one
as head of Producers Cotton Oil. He was so good that they lured him to Arizona
where he became chairman and the chief executive officer of the largest bank in
the Rocky Mountain area. Now you don't do that by laying on your oars. You have
to work, work hard. And I think kids are getting, I think kids realize that.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I like to point out about my own two daughters, for example,
who packed peaches for four successive years standing on a hard cement floor and
working 12 hours a day all summer without a whimper. And their peers did it. Not
just Betsy and Carol, but all their friends wanted a job. Changed a little bit,
I think. I don't think people are quite so anxious to work so hard. You know,
standing on cement for 12 hours a day is no picnic. But they've made great wives
and great mothers.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think one of the reasons they did it is because they had
to work when they were kids. So if I had to pass on any, and I do, people come
to me and want help and want to borrow money->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I always want to find out, you know, how willing are you
to work your heart out.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You've seen lots of changes in terms of leadership, both
at the federal, state, and local level. Where do you see Fresno going, Fresno
County, our central California area going not only economically but leadershipwise? Are we getting leaders of character, which of course will determine the
economics and jobs and all that area? If you had a crystal ball, where do you
see the future of central California going?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Pete, you know there's going to be more people. That
means that the responsibilities are going to be greater. I think the, as so
often we have our ups and downs in leadership, and I think that we as a society
will prevail. I think we'll find the right people for the right jobs. Sometimes
they aren't particularly what you and I particularly want at that point. And we
get badmouthed occasionally, but I'm not of that ilk. I think we have so much
more to offer than the people who want to put us down that I have great faith in
the future. I have great faith in the people that are coming along. I think
they're, the next mayor, I'm not in Fresno of course, but I'm a constituent of
Chuck Poochigian, for example, and I think there is an outstanding young man.
And I think that he will give us, he's a young man, he will give us great
leadership. Bill Jones another one. And I'm not partisan; I think Whitehurst is
another man of a different political persuasion than I. I think we've got a lot
of good people. I don't know Patterson particularly well, but I think he's done
a good job in a lot of ways. And I know he gets put down occasionally, but I
think he's honest and straight, straightforward and has good character. And so
I'm not too worried about leadership. I think we'll get along in good shape.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Knute Rockne was once quoted as saying, "When the great
scorekeeper records the final game, it matters not who wins or loses but how the
game was played." How does Earl Smittcamp, and you've had many, many good years
watching your tennis game, many good years ahead of you so I'm not recording the
final score now. But how does Earl Smittcamp, who literally is a pillar of our,
and as modest as you are and I know this disturbs you by me saying this, but as
a leader, as a pillar of our community, what do you want people to say when the
final score is recorded about Earl Smittcamp, his family, his career?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think we've discussed probably the key things. I wouldn't
want to live my life any differently than I have lived it. I've lived, I started
out very poor and I worked hard; I've done at all times what I thought was best
for my family and my community. And I hope that people will say, "well, he
didn't do everything right, but he did a lot of good things for a number of
people." And if they'll say that about me, I'll be very happy. I'm very
optimistic about the future. I might be 81 years old, but I'm not through
working. If there's another mountain to climb and it looks advantageous to me
and looks like fun, I'll do it. And then the land out there in Clovis, I'm going
to do some personal subdividing, and that's, I did a 40-acre piece that was kind
of fun with Bill, our youngest son and I did it. And Bob, our oldest son, is
doing a little subdividing at the present time, so there's a lot to be done and,
you know, I'm very active at St. Agnes and very active at Fresno State
University. And I'm very proud to be a part of both those institutions. And
there's a lot of work to be done at both those places, too. I don't think
there's any, I'm going to have any trouble finding something to do.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I would be remiss if I had, if I didn't mention the
Smittcamp Alumni House which is, as we speak, under construction.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not only does it epitomize the Smittcamp family, it's done
with dignity, it's done with class. How did you get involved with that? Of
course being an alumnus.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Sure.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But it is just, for years to come, generations are going
to reap the benefit of it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Bill Forbes, another friend of yours and a staunch
alumnus and I kept playing tennis, and he kept bugging me that he wanted a
million dollars. [laughter] And I was in shock, really, that anybody would ever
ask me for that kind of money. But little by little he worked on me and of
course Harold Haak worked on me a little bit. But really the guy that really did
the trick was John Welty. And I'm a real fan of John Welty's; I think he's done
a fine job as president of the university. He works day and night at the job.
And we as a family have done this together, and once again I think it's a
tribute to how we were raised and how we think that we want to do something for
somebody else. And I think all of our children are of this mode, and we're just
kind of thrilled that we're able to be able to do it. And we know it's going to
be an attribute to the university. Most important, we think it's going to help
bring the alumni of Fresno State to common grounds, a place we can meet and talk
and dream and plan for the future of the university. You know we have a great
university, a lot better than a lot of people give us credit for. I'm awful
proud to be a graduate, and all of our four children are graduates of Fresno
State and both of our daughter-in-laws, so we're very, very proud of Fresno
State University and proud of the small part we've played.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And lastly, when people talk about Fresno, the central
area, and talk about Mr. Republican, there are a lot of prominent elected
Republicans, but the name that is always mentioned when they say, "Who is Mr.
Republican still, and has been for a long time?" They mentioned Earl Smittcamp!
The Earl Smittcamp name is, for years, has been associated with Mr. Republican.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think that's a slight exaggeration, maybe a major
exaggeration. I believe the political structure of our country and our county
and various subdivisions is so awfully important. I've walked a lot of precincts
for a lot of people. No money. Doesn’t need a lot of money. You know, men,
really are lousy politicians, because they're too lazy to get out and walk
precincts. And I'm not in that mode. I've walked precincts for a lot of -someone, Sharon Levy, for example, she won; Wes Craven, where I walked precincts
for him, he lost after a year or a term or two. So while we have contributed
some money over time, I think it's the interest that shows that I'm really
interested. I'm interested in every political office. You know what? We have
something in our ballot in Clovis tomorrow, or the [inaudible]. There's only one
issue, and it's the Kings River Water District. I don't know either one. I'm
going to go vote. Don't know who I'm going to vote for yet, but I've never not
voted in a single election in my entire life, including the time I was in the
service. I voted by absentee ballot. So I, I'm proud to be a citizen and vote
and work in the system. I am a Republican, but I do, I do believe in voting and
working for the person I believe is right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, in summary, the poet, Popham, I believe, that said,
"There is a destiny that makes us brothers; none go his way alone. All that we
send in the lives of others come back into our own." And certainly Muriel and
Earl and the Smittcamp family have given a great deal -- not money, but a great
deal in the form of character and leadership to our community. So on behalf of
the Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Business Committee, which I'm a member
of, we thank you for who you are and a lifetime of achievement.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Thank you. I hope I've mentioned my wife enough, because my
wife has been so very important about everything that I've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: How many years have you been married now, Earl?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Fifty-nine years, sixty our next anniversary. And Muriel and I
went together all through college, so it's been a wonderful love affair, and
everything I've said about my life and my children's lives and my grandchildren
and so forth, my wife has been a, very much an integral part.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her maiden name?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Was Schmeiser.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Schmeiser.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And he was a prominent republican.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Much more prominent than I, really. [laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her sister?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Muriel's sister is Mavis Koontz, Kermit Koontz's wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right. That's [inaudible] as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right, right. And she had an older sister that's now ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Older sister as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: -- been deceased, yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, congratulations, and what a delight to finally get
you here, and finally get you [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: I did it just according to the letter!
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay, that's good. Thanks, [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: Letter says, "Show at 1:00 o'clock"; here I am! Thanks, Pete.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you, Earl. Semper Fi!
>>Earl Smittcamp: Semper Fi. [laughs]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====
legend in our community. What a delight it is to have you here. For the record:
name, place of birth and date of birth.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Earl Smittcamp. I was born in what is now a community
hospital, then called Burnett Sanitarium. May 5, 1918. That makes me 81 years
old.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was Fresno like growing up as a youngster? Are we the
same as we were then?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I really didn't have much experience in Fresno because I was,
I really grew up out in Kerman. And I'm proud of my Kerman heritage because it's
a very small community. And my most poignant remembrance of course is the ‘30s
because everybody was poor. No one had any money, and no one cared. Raisins were
2 cents a pound. We all had to work hard. I'd have done a hundred jobs from
picking grapes to chopping cotton to doing everything imaginable in especially
my four years in high school at Kerman High. And then as you know I went on to
Fresno State in 1935 to ‘39. Things were so tough I couldn't afford to live in
Fresno, so I got a ride back and forth from, with a Methodist minister's son in
a Willy’s which was about ten years old. And he charged me the magnificent sum
of 10 dollars per month. But all that time I was the janitor of the Bank of
America out in Kerman, so I had to get up about 4:30 in the morning and clean
the spittoons. And that's no easy job at 4:30 in the morning. And so it was an
interesting time. Fresno State had 800 students. I know I wrote a big paper in
order to get an A in some course about the buying habits of 1200 students. I
think we fibbed a little bit. My wife, I met my wife at Fresno State, and we
went together all through college. And so it was a wonderful time, even though
we had no money. But no one else did either, and so it was a great time to grow
up. We learned how to work. We learned how to do without. We learned how to love
one another. We had no crime that I can remember. I mean, the worst thing that
happened was that you might go down Fulton Street at 60 miles an hour. I can't
remember any crime in Fresno. Maybe, I suppose there was some, but I can't very
much remember it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Tom Brokaw in his book, "The Greatest Generation,"
describes your generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that fought the Second World War.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that went through the Depression.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A generation that eventually put the man on the moon.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: A very, very special generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Leon Peters, Lew Eaton.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Earl Smittcamp.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Are that generation.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: What was it, as many of us reflect upon the sacrifice and
as you said the poverty, but what was it that made this generation probably
contribute so much to the America that we now know? And many of us believe we've
been living off the equity of your generation. What was it about this generation
though that you can recall, and I know you're a very modest individual, but for
future generations, what were those characteristics?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I'm proud to have been in that generation. Probably the most,
one of the most proud things that I have done in my lifetime is to join the
United States Marine Corps four months after the declaration, and I served for
four years in the Corps and 30 months in the Marine, the First Marine Division.
And I only say that because I think it epitomizes the generation. You know, 13
million of us served in the service. And then since that time, it's been
difficult to get, you know we've had so much [inaudible], bad press, bad feeling
about Vietnam, you know, but in my generation it was a pride to serve. It was,
we were proud to be part of this, of the American armed services, and I think
that carries over into life. I think if you're willing to give your blood, if
you're willing to give your life for your country, you're certainly willing to
give part of yourself to your community, to your family, to the people that
amount to something, or that's the wrong, to the people in the community
generally. And so I think that, in succession, the tough Depression, the war,
the life after the war when we're all trying to get settled and organized. And
my wife and I bought our farm in 1946 with no money, almost 100 percent
financing from the bank. And we fought and worked and raised four wonderful
children and fourteen grandchildren, I might add, which we're very proud of.
And, but I think it's the basic philosophy of giving; you had to give when you
were making 20 or 25 cents an hour. I mean, you didn't have much to give, so you
gave your time and your effort, my parents did. And then as we get, got older
after through the war you gave of course. I mean, not only did the 13 million
people that served, but all the people that stayed home and served. And Rosie
the Riveter and so forth. And then afterwards, we weren't much better off
financially than we were before. I mean, you know, we were really a long time
getting out of the post-war era. And so it was, I think the, I read the Brokaw
book and I enjoyed it very much because I can see so many of my friends, so many
of my experiences in it. And I think it was a great book, and I'm proud to have
been in this generation.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: So did my uncle who served in the Second World War as
Marines. 19-, 20-, 21-year-old kids that went to war, and yet there was an
incredible reluctancy when they came back not to talk about it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not to glorify it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom --
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You very seldom ->>Earl Smittcamp: I very seldom talk about it.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And yet the experiences ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of seeing their colleagues die and seeing the
sacrifice.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I was in four massive invasions with the First Marine
Division, and I've seen a lot of my very good friends killed. And I've seen a
lot of the enemy killed. And so it's something that, I'm not a pessimist, I
don't look backward. I'm an optimist by nature, and so that's just a period of
my life that I wouldn't say I'm glad to have gone through, but at least I did go
through it. And now I'm looking forward to the next challenge tomorrow. I'm
always looking for another mountain to climb. I don't know where it's going to
be, but I'm sure there'll be one around.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Were you in the Pacific or the European theater?
>>Earl Smittcamp: No, I was in the Pacific. The Marines spent all their
the Pacific. I was on New Guinea and Cape Gloucester and Peleliu, which
severely injured and I was two months in the hospital there. And then I
I ended up on Okinawa. And the war was over when I was there. So it was
interesting...
time in
I was
end up,
an
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Period of time.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You still recall seeing at Normandy the inscription at the
cemetery, the military cemetery, saying "we gave our todays, so you could enjoy
your tomorrows."
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And I think that's one of the things that our young people
need to remember, that there was an enormous sacrifice ->>Earl Smittcamp: Yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: -- of people who gave their todays, so we could enjoy our
tomorrows. You knew Lee Peters extremely well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: That's true.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Probably amongst the best.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, we served on the Fresno State, we served on many
committees together, and he was chairman of the Fresno State Foundation Board of
Governors for a number of years, and I served many years with him. And of
course, he gave so much of himself and his life to the community, and that is
the reason that this award is named after him. And I think it's the reason that
so many people are so honored to receive this award. It's the most prestigious
award in Fresno, and I am particularly pleased and honored because I knew him
reasonably well. And I know no one has given more of their life and their time
and their effort. And he worked hard to get, he started as a mighty poor, young
Armenian boy himself, you know? And he gave a lot to the community after he made
his fortune, I guess you would say.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely correct. There are many of us believe that the
Leon Peters Award is the most prestigious award given in the Central Valley, and
it stands for more than just success in business, but philanthropy and giving to
the community. Another characteristic of your generation, of giving.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of giving not only in the Second World War, but continuing
to give. You see the Lew Eatons, the Dick Johansons, the Smittcamps constantly
giving to the community. And so that's what the Leon Peters Award also stands
for. What is it that motivated you and others to give so much and continue to
give to the community?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Oh, I think to a degree you're born with it. I think you're
born with a lot of traits, talk about blue eyes or brown eyes or big physique
like you have. And so but I think you're born with other traits, the trait of
wanting to do something for somebody else, wanting to give. You know, I think to
a degree Leon Peters Award is not overblown, but to a degree it is an award that
epitomizes giving, and that, so the few of us that have been given this award
because we've done a few things that maybe have been noticed. But I go to my
church and I see women who work day after day in the thrift shop or putting
flowers on the altar or, and I just use that as an example. And my own daughters
are so active in the schools and the No on Drugs and the Marjaree Mason Center.
They get really no accolades. And so the, and I haven't done any more in my
community than a million other people. It just so happens that maybe I got my
name in the paper. Or you know, I ran for political office twice and got beat
both times [laughter], so I'm not too famous. And so I'm really not too
wonderful nor am I too particularly successful when it comes to some segments of
my life. I love to point to my daughters and my sons.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: We have two of each who, I know my daughters get up at 6:00 in
the morning and get their kids ready for school, and at 10:00 at night they're
either helping with homework or worrying about some project that they're going
to work on the next day. And I, you, your wife's in the same crib.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: So I, while I'm pleased and honored that I was awarded the
Peters Award, I just think that it just epitomizes something that everybody
should have. Not everybody, because everybody doesn't work as hard as some. But
there's so many people, and as I say, the church and the school and there are so
many activities in our community that it's hard to enumerate all, and it's hard
to really pinpoint all the work. And as you know, Pete, in this public service
job that you have, that you see all these people, the schools for example. And
in my day, when I was, Muriel and I sure don't want to short saying my dear
wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Absolutely.
>>Earl Smittcamp: But when we were raising our children before all the
unifications, you know, we trustees just spent lots and lots of time on the
people. We were in potlucks and we were painting the schools. We were doing all
of these jobs, and I started with the Garfield School, a three-teacher school,
and we merged with Dry Creek and made an eight- or nine-teacher school. It was a
magnificent experience. My kids went through that school with one teacher per
class, and we were always doing something for the school. Well you know there's
a multitude of those kind of projects going on right now by thousands of people
in this county.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think it's so important that people continue to give.
Money is not important. I like to quote my friend, Lionel Steinberg, who was a
rabid Democrat, and I'm a rabid Republican of course.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Of course.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And Lionel said he could make all the money he needed working
35 percent of his time. And the rest, the other 65 percent of his time he
contributed to his community or his party or, you know, he had a lot of public
service jobs, chairman of the State Board of Agriculture and so forth. And I
think he represents a factor, a segment of our society that is determined in
addition to making money to take care of their material needs they want to do
something for their fellow man.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: We live in a society in which our young people want
instant gratification, instant success. They don't make it quickly, something's
wrong. Another characteristic of your generation is that you labored long and
hard in the fields before success came to you. You experienced many
disappointments. What advice would you give young people today who aspire to be
an Earl Smittcamp, who aspire to be a Lee Peters? What advice would you give
them as they start off in their quest to be a successful business person?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I have a very favorite four letter word, and it's spelled
work. I don't think there's any substitute for work. You have to work at
whatever you do. I know people that have lots of money that still work, work for
somebody else, work for philanthropic enterprises. But if I had to give one
trait. Of course, there's a bunch of them, you know; it all boils down to
character. You have to be honest. You have to have good morals. But you have to
work. You have to get up before the sun comes up, and you have to work after it
goes down. And Pete, you know all about that. I see you to meetings late at
night, and I know you'd rather be at home than attending the meeting because
it's part of your contribution to the public to the job that you have done. But
it's, you know, you could walk out of here at 5:00 and say, "my job's done." You
don't do that. And I think the people that we're talking about that have
received the Peters Award have shown that attribute. They've all been hard
workers that I can think of starting with Lew Eaton and Jim Mayer. And my
friend, Jim Mayer, you know, held two very prestigious jobs over the years, one
as head of Producers Cotton Oil. He was so good that they lured him to Arizona
where he became chairman and the chief executive officer of the largest bank in
the Rocky Mountain area. Now you don't do that by laying on your oars. You have
to work, work hard. And I think kids are getting, I think kids realize that.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I like to point out about my own two daughters, for example,
who packed peaches for four successive years standing on a hard cement floor and
working 12 hours a day all summer without a whimper. And their peers did it. Not
just Betsy and Carol, but all their friends wanted a job. Changed a little bit,
I think. I don't think people are quite so anxious to work so hard. You know,
standing on cement for 12 hours a day is no picnic. But they've made great wives
and great mothers.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Yes.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I think one of the reasons they did it is because they had
to work when they were kids. So if I had to pass on any, and I do, people come
to me and want help and want to borrow money->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Sure.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And I always want to find out, you know, how willing are you
to work your heart out.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: You've seen lots of changes in terms of leadership, both
at the federal, state, and local level. Where do you see Fresno going, Fresno
County, our central California area going not only economically but leadershipwise? Are we getting leaders of character, which of course will determine the
economics and jobs and all that area? If you had a crystal ball, where do you
see the future of central California going?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Pete, you know there's going to be more people. That
means that the responsibilities are going to be greater. I think the, as so
often we have our ups and downs in leadership, and I think that we as a society
will prevail. I think we'll find the right people for the right jobs. Sometimes
they aren't particularly what you and I particularly want at that point. And we
get badmouthed occasionally, but I'm not of that ilk. I think we have so much
more to offer than the people who want to put us down that I have great faith in
the future. I have great faith in the people that are coming along. I think
they're, the next mayor, I'm not in Fresno of course, but I'm a constituent of
Chuck Poochigian, for example, and I think there is an outstanding young man.
And I think that he will give us, he's a young man, he will give us great
leadership. Bill Jones another one. And I'm not partisan; I think Whitehurst is
another man of a different political persuasion than I. I think we've got a lot
of good people. I don't know Patterson particularly well, but I think he's done
a good job in a lot of ways. And I know he gets put down occasionally, but I
think he's honest and straight, straightforward and has good character. And so
I'm not too worried about leadership. I think we'll get along in good shape.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Knute Rockne was once quoted as saying, "When the great
scorekeeper records the final game, it matters not who wins or loses but how the
game was played." How does Earl Smittcamp, and you've had many, many good years
watching your tennis game, many good years ahead of you so I'm not recording the
final score now. But how does Earl Smittcamp, who literally is a pillar of our,
and as modest as you are and I know this disturbs you by me saying this, but as
a leader, as a pillar of our community, what do you want people to say when the
final score is recorded about Earl Smittcamp, his family, his career?
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think we've discussed probably the key things. I wouldn't
want to live my life any differently than I have lived it. I've lived, I started
out very poor and I worked hard; I've done at all times what I thought was best
for my family and my community. And I hope that people will say, "well, he
didn't do everything right, but he did a lot of good things for a number of
people." And if they'll say that about me, I'll be very happy. I'm very
optimistic about the future. I might be 81 years old, but I'm not through
working. If there's another mountain to climb and it looks advantageous to me
and looks like fun, I'll do it. And then the land out there in Clovis, I'm going
to do some personal subdividing, and that's, I did a 40-acre piece that was kind
of fun with Bill, our youngest son and I did it. And Bob, our oldest son, is
doing a little subdividing at the present time, so there's a lot to be done and,
you know, I'm very active at St. Agnes and very active at Fresno State
University. And I'm very proud to be a part of both those institutions. And
there's a lot of work to be done at both those places, too. I don't think
there's any, I'm going to have any trouble finding something to do.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: I would be remiss if I had, if I didn't mention the
Smittcamp Alumni House which is, as we speak, under construction.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Yes.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Not only does it epitomize the Smittcamp family, it's done
with dignity, it's done with class. How did you get involved with that? Of
course being an alumnus.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Sure.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: But it is just, for years to come, generations are going
to reap the benefit of it.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Well, Bill Forbes, another friend of yours and a staunch
alumnus and I kept playing tennis, and he kept bugging me that he wanted a
million dollars. [laughter] And I was in shock, really, that anybody would ever
ask me for that kind of money. But little by little he worked on me and of
course Harold Haak worked on me a little bit. But really the guy that really did
the trick was John Welty. And I'm a real fan of John Welty's; I think he's done
a fine job as president of the university. He works day and night at the job.
And we as a family have done this together, and once again I think it's a
tribute to how we were raised and how we think that we want to do something for
somebody else. And I think all of our children are of this mode, and we're just
kind of thrilled that we're able to be able to do it. And we know it's going to
be an attribute to the university. Most important, we think it's going to help
bring the alumni of Fresno State to common grounds, a place we can meet and talk
and dream and plan for the future of the university. You know we have a great
university, a lot better than a lot of people give us credit for. I'm awful
proud to be a graduate, and all of our four children are graduates of Fresno
State and both of our daughter-in-laws, so we're very, very proud of Fresno
State University and proud of the small part we've played.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And lastly, when people talk about Fresno, the central
area, and talk about Mr. Republican, there are a lot of prominent elected
Republicans, but the name that is always mentioned when they say, "Who is Mr.
Republican still, and has been for a long time?" They mentioned Earl Smittcamp!
The Earl Smittcamp name is, for years, has been associated with Mr. Republican.
>>Earl Smittcamp: I think that's a slight exaggeration, maybe a major
exaggeration. I believe the political structure of our country and our county
and various subdivisions is so awfully important. I've walked a lot of precincts
for a lot of people. No money. Doesn’t need a lot of money. You know, men,
really are lousy politicians, because they're too lazy to get out and walk
precincts. And I'm not in that mode. I've walked precincts for a lot of -someone, Sharon Levy, for example, she won; Wes Craven, where I walked precincts
for him, he lost after a year or a term or two. So while we have contributed
some money over time, I think it's the interest that shows that I'm really
interested. I'm interested in every political office. You know what? We have
something in our ballot in Clovis tomorrow, or the [inaudible]. There's only one
issue, and it's the Kings River Water District. I don't know either one. I'm
going to go vote. Don't know who I'm going to vote for yet, but I've never not
voted in a single election in my entire life, including the time I was in the
service. I voted by absentee ballot. So I, I'm proud to be a citizen and vote
and work in the system. I am a Republican, but I do, I do believe in voting and
working for the person I believe is right.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, in summary, the poet, Popham, I believe, that said,
"There is a destiny that makes us brothers; none go his way alone. All that we
send in the lives of others come back into our own." And certainly Muriel and
Earl and the Smittcamp family have given a great deal -- not money, but a great
deal in the form of character and leadership to our community. So on behalf of
the Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Business Committee, which I'm a member
of, we thank you for who you are and a lifetime of achievement.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Thank you. I hope I've mentioned my wife enough, because my
wife has been so very important about everything that I've done.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: How many years have you been married now, Earl?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Fifty-nine years, sixty our next anniversary. And Muriel and I
went together all through college, so it's been a wonderful love affair, and
everything I've said about my life and my children's lives and my grandchildren
and so forth, my wife has been a, very much an integral part.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her maiden name?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Was Schmeiser.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Schmeiser.
>>Earl Smittcamp: And he was a prominent republican.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Much more prominent than I, really. [laughter]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: And her sister?
>>Earl Smittcamp: Muriel's sister is Mavis Koontz, Kermit Koontz's wife.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Right. That's [inaudible] as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: Right, right. And she had an older sister that's now ->>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Older sister as well.
>>Earl Smittcamp: -- been deceased, yeah.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Well, congratulations, and what a delight to finally get
you here, and finally get you [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: I did it just according to the letter!
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay, that's good. Thanks, [inaudible].
>>Earl Smittcamp: Letter says, "Show at 1:00 o'clock"; here I am! Thanks, Pete.
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Thank you, Earl. Semper Fi!
>>Earl Smittcamp: Semper Fi. [laughs]
>>Dr. Peter G. Mehas: Okay.
==== Transcribed by Automatic Sync Technologies ====