Judy Smith has faithfully served as our Corresponding Secretary and Recording Secretary fsince 2009. Judy prepares and distributes the meeting minutes for the Executive Committee meetings, which are held three times a year. Judy also purchases and sets up the table decorations for our December dinner meetings. We asked Judy to tell us about herself and how he got interested in the Civil War. She graciously provided the following information:
Judy attended J.C Nichols School and Southwest High School, and then moved to Cleveland OH and graduated from Rocky River High. Judy moved back to Kansas City in 1959 and attended college at UMKC.
Judy worked her way into banking at City National Bank. She later ran the Straub Construction office. Judy then changed direction and ran Dr. Harlan Burns' office.
Judy met her future husband, Jerry Smith, at the Village Presbyterian Church in 1959. Judy and some of her friends met Jerry and some of his friends at an event held at the church one night. Judy said she had her eye on Jerry. They were married on September 14, 1963. Judy and Jerry have one son, named Chris. Chris and his wife live in Overland Park and have three sons: Carson (age 12), Lucas (age 10), and Sawyer (age 6). Judy and Jerry built a new house in Basehor KS and moved there three years ago.
Regarding how she got interested in the Civil War, Judy said:
"In 1995, we met a couple from South Carolina. They organized a trip to the east, to see some Civil War battlefields, etc. There were 15 of us on the trip. We just went along for the ride. Our first stop was the Antietam National Battlefield...what an awesome experience! Then came Gettysburg National Military Park on a grey, misty day. What an incredible, eyeopening event.
"Frederick MD was next on the list, then Harpers Ferry WV. That's what did it! I found a book titled: From the Riot and Tumult: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, by James V. Murfm, published in 1989. I could not put that book down. I had it almost memorized by the time we got home.
"I immediately looked up someone in our Shriners group that could tell me more about the Civil War Round Table of Kansas City. Sandy Ackerson was the President at that tune. Our first meeting was in 1996, held at the Leawood Country Club...and as they say, the rest is History!"
Judy and Jerry Smith are loyal members of the Round Table. They attend almost eveiy meeting and do a great job of making people feel welcome at our dinner meetings. Thank you, Judy for sharing your story with us.
