[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING MR. JACK C. SMITH, FOUNDER OF K-VA-T FOODS, FOOD CITY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 25, 2005

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my admiration and respect 
for Mr. Jack C. Smith, the creative entrepreneur and community leader 
responsible for K-VA-T Foods, Food City. Although Mr. Smith resides in 
Virginia, his impact has reached thousands of households in East 
Tennessee.
  As Members of this body, we frequently have the opportunity to 
recognize the achievements of our constituents and these achievements 
are quite often remarkable. Today, though, we have the distinct honor 
to recognize a man who has consistently embodied what we respectfully 
call the great American spirit.
  Mr. Smith was born into a small rural coalmining community in 
Southern Virginia. From an early age he showed signs of leadership and 
recognized the greatness of his Nation. Young Jack set as his life's 
goal service in the United States Navy and on Flag Day, 1944, Jack 
Smith joined the ranks of our Navy's finest as a Midshipman at the 
United States Naval Academy.
  In 1947, he graduated from Annapolis and was married to his wife, 
Judy Smith. From 1947 until 1954, Mr. Smith served his Country with 
distinction. Following an honorable discharge, Mr. Smith and his wife 
returned to the hills of Virginia.
  It was here that Mr. Smith's eye for business became focused. 
Recognizing the community's need for a supermarket style grocery, Mr. 
Smith, with his family's support, set about to meet that need.
  Today, 50 years have passed since that first grocery store opened its 
doors, but the focus on excellence and the determination to support 
local communities has only grown. Through expansion and acquisition, 
Mr. Smith's small family company has grown to 92 stores with a service 
reach of over 2.5 million people in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee.
  In addition to being a successful businessman, Mr. Smith has 
demonstrated his appreciation for local communities through countless 
philanthropic efforts. Under his leadership, Food City has donated over 
$7 million to schools in three states and has partnered with local 
farmers giving them an avenue to bring their produce to a broad and 
profitable market. Communities throughout its service region know that 
if a Food City store opens in their neighborhood, their neighborhood 
will become stronger.
  Food City stands as an example of the great success that can come 
from one man's commitment to doing the very best he can do. Food City 
continues to be a family owned company.
  As possibly the most impacting testimony of all, his children and 
grandchildren possess the same remarkable character that set one young 
man from a rural coalmining community on a path that we celebrate here 
on the Floor of the United States House of Representatives today.
  Congratulations to Mr. Jack C. Smith for 50 years of business success 
and thank you for 50 years of setting an example each of us can follow.

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