"Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men." – From Franklin Roosevelt’s first inaugural address in 1933.
During the course of our lives, we occasionally encounter people who inspire us to not only see the
best in others, but to ultimately realize the best in ourselves. They are the ones who believe and understand that everybody, regardless of station, has a dream and a purpose to offer this world. I have been fortunate to know many such mentors in my life and have again been recently blessed with the occasion to meet another.
Third of her agrarian parents’ six children, Catherine Smith was born in Knoxville on July 9, 1927. In September of 1940, she accompanied her family to the dedication ceremony of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park by President Roosevelt. Later, her father, Rufus H. Smith Sr. became the builder of the Y-12 and K-25 facilities at Oak Ridge. As key parts of FDR’s "Manhattan Project," the development of the nuclear bomb, Y-12 was originally used for electromagnetic separation of uranium and K-25 is where uranium was enriched by the gaseous diffusion process. As a child, Catherine and her brother Rufus Jr. were taught to read blueprints, mix mortar and lay bricks by their father during the construction of these historic buildings.
Before graduating from Central High School in 1946, Catherine began working for the Southern Bell phone
company as a long distance operator at age 14. Within two years, she became a supervisor and went on to enjoy a management
career lasting a dozen years. During that time, she wanted to go to the University of Tennessee to study mechanical engineering, but regrettably allowed her superiors at the phone company to
change her mind and continue her work for them.
In 1947, Smith met Fred Kyle May at
church on Mother’s Day and the young couple married the next year. During their 50
years together, which ended with Kyle’s passing on Thanksgiving Day 1998, they raised 2 daughters, managed a welding company, bought and sold a dairy farm while founding and operating Copper Kettle restaurants in Knoxville, Athens and Sweetwater, TN for over 30 years.
In 1985 Catherine Smith May set upon her present profession, as she embraced a career in hotel management. She began her current assignment as general
manager of the Clarion Inn Willow River in Sevierville when she was hired by the Wade family in 1995. Beginning with supervising the construction, Mrs. May is the only general manager the award winning 88-room property has ever had. Winner of 9 Gold Awards in 10 years and Best of the Best finalist, the polished brilliance of this ante-bellum style showplace presents itself as though it only opened last week. On the weekends, Mrs. May goes home to her Maybrook Farm in Athens, where she raises Tennessee Walking Horses. She is also active in the Englewood First Baptist Church, where she continues to serve on the congregation’s building and design committee.
After witnessing the whole world change many times, I am convinced Catherine Smith May will consider retirement no less than 20 minutes after the good Lord calls her home. Accordingly, as long as she has a good reason to get up every morning, that call won’t be coming anytime soon.
Henry Piarrot is a lodging manager in Sevier County,TN. Please send all story recommendations to hpiarrot@yahoo.com
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