September 9, 2020 Issue, Page 2 of 8

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Page 2 The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Wednesday, September 9, 2020 Jones SWODA OK 73624 or telephone 800- 627-4882, ext. 126 or 580- 562-5026. was created to strengthen the economic and social development of the region services such as the follow- ing: 911 Administration, aging services, community Geographic Information Systems, rural fire defense Continued from page 1. through various specialized and workforce development. The new building will Continued from page 1. SWODA is one of 11 and economic development, are working together to Council of Government have 3,400 square feet, and find solutions to problems quirement of 110 pounds. Supply operations in the - state. this testing. it should be finished early and concerns of the aging SWODA’s region of ser- All donations are tested for OBI has produced a fly- next year. COVID-19 antibodies that and disabled in our area,” vice includes municipalities, er and video to encourage Cost, traffic and new de- velopment were reasons the release stated. counties and conservation Continued from page 1. reveal whether an individual schools to host blood drives. For additional informa- districts in Beckham, Custer, has been previously exposed Skinner picked the new tion, contact Tangela Henry Greer, Harmon, Jackson, weigh at least 125 pounds, to the virus. Those 16 and 17 To schedule a drive or for building’s location. at SWODA Aging Services, Kiowa, Roger Mills and while donors 18 and older years of age must have pa- additional information, visit “T liked the area; I did not P.O. Box 569, Burns Flat Washita counties. SWODA have a minimum weight re- rental permission to receive obi.org. want to move too far away Leadership from my current location,” Philosophy degree (Ph.D.) Service Medal (Sth award), Chaplain, he facilitated a Skinner said. “That was a in Organizational Leader- the Army Commendation multi-faith dialogue be- big deal to me. I wanted to ship from Regent Univer- Medal (5th award), the tween the Afghanistan Reli- stay close to downtown. So sity, Virginia Beach, VA. He Joint Service Achievement gious Cultural Advisors and Continued from page 1. cessful fund-raiser for Bay- that’s essentially how we ar- Texas State University lor. His knowledge of the published his dissertation in Medal, the Army Achieve- local Religious Leaders in ProQuest Dissertations & ment Medal (4th award), the an effort to promote a safer rived here.” head football coach, 1983— offensive line was sought Theses. The dissertation is Valorous Unit Award, the after and his lectures at the environment for our Mili- Customers can expect the 1989 University of Iowa offen- Texas High School Asso- titled “The Effects of Self- Meritorious Unit Award, the tary Service Members and same service from the new efficacy and Spirituality on Army Good Conduct Medal sive line coach, 1990-1991 ciation’s Conventions were the local community. He led Paul Jones Drug location the Job Satisfaction and Mo- (2nd award), the Parachut- a team of seven chaplains After coaching at sev- always packed. He became that they receive at the cur- tivation to Lead among Re- ist Badge, the Air Assault conduct the first ever Coun- eral schools, he thought he the head football coach at rent location. The most sig- deploying Soldiers as Mod- Badge, and the Combat Ac- try-wide Interfaith Dialogue should send back the sal- Texas State University in nificant additions will be the erated by Transformational tion Badge for close combat between Religious Leaders ary he was paid for his first December of 1982. He left Leadership.” action with enemy forces drive-through and additional coaching job in Mangum, Baylor University with a and Afghan Army and US parking and coming up to because he realized how lit- heavy heart but was excited He has used this organi- Army Religious Leaders, zational leadership skill-set code on those new guide- tle he had known back then. to achieve his lifelong goal impacting both Afghan and to advise commanders and Order of Titus, a prestigious lines so the pharmacy can That job was not only head of being the head coach at a US leaders and Soldiers, as major university. staffs at every echelon in the award designated for hand- continue to compound for high school football coach Army from battalion (1,000 selected Chaplain Observer well as civilians on the bat- the community. but also head junior high His seven-year tenure as a tlefield. personnel) to Corps (40,000 Coach/Trainers. Dr. Smith “That was important to women’s basketball coach, SWT Bobcat produced win- Tn 2019, Dr. Smith was history teacher, and driver's personnel). is a published author and Dr. Smith currently serves motivational speaker who selected by the Army Chief ning teams who finished with us,” Skinner said. Skinner said the new lo- ed instructor. He also of- multiple 9-2 and 7-4 seasons as the Command Chaplain, enjoys sharing leadership of Chaplains to join a cohort ficiated high school bas- as well as a Lone Star Con- of Chaplain Corps leaders cation means employees ketball and in the summer ference title. But when the for the 7th Infantry Division, lessons with organizations Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and leadership teams look- as executive-level coaches will have more space to worked delivering furniture University of Iowa offered to help “make ends meet.” him a position as offensive Washington, serving 14,000 ing to build cohesive win- to enhance Chaplain Corps work. Plus, the new loca- ning teams and healthy ef- soldiers and leaders. His capabilities in executive- tion will be better able to use In Amarillo, he worked line coach, he couldn’t deny previous assignments in- fective organizations. level coaching and pastoral its RapidPakRx machine, with a great staff who all his chance to once again In 2016, he was awarded engagement skills, provid- which packages people’s seemed to intertwine with teach the position he knew clude serving as the Deputy ing competencies to facili- his future. George Kirk, the so well. The lowa Hawkeyes Command Chaplain, Ameri- Alumnus of the Year, As- meds in boxes, and technol- ca’s First Corps; Senior Op- semblies of God Theologi- tate General Officer/Senior ogy such as that is easier to head coach, was an amazing played in the Rose Bowl and erations Group Chaplain and cal Seminary, Springfield, Leader executive _ well- mentor, and his best friend the Holiday Bowl during fit into a new location. Brigade Chaplain Trainer, Missouri. In his 2016 book, ness and to advance Army on their staff, John Wilkins, his two years at Iowa. His The new location has been was known years later as successful college coaching Operations Group, National The Image of My Father: readiness, Upon comple- something that has been in head coach of the Odessa career was evident as 27 of Training Center, Fort Irwin, Awakening the Champion tion of additional coaching the works for several years, Permian Panthers. John also the athletes he had coached California; Deputy Division Within, he offers solutions hours, Dr. Smith will earn Skinner said. coached baseball, taught were named All-American Chaplain, 10th mountain for overcoming adversity. the advanced International “It’s always been some- history, and became an ex- or joined NFL Ranks. Division in Upstate New He was raised in the absence Coaching Federation (ICF) thing that we've talked pert roofer in the summers. Tragically, on February York; the Group Chaplain, of his father, lost his mother certification. In 2019, Dr. about, just needing a drive- 22, 1992, John died at the Tth Special Forces Group Later, just as he and his fam- early in life, and was fre- Smith was also selected by through in today’s world,” ily had purchased their first age of 48 from a massive (Airborne); Battalion Chap- quently told he would never the Army Chief of Chap- he said. “And then going house, a call from Coach heart attack. He and his lain, 2nd Battalion, 27th lains to participate in the amount to anything. Jim Acree inspired his move wife, Saundra, had been en- He shares powerful les- Strategic Leader Develop- Infantry Regiment; Brigade through what we just went to Midland, Texas, to coach joying a cruise with the Iowa Chaplain, 162nd Infantry sons on embracing adversity ment Course for senior lead- through with COVID, it just the Lee Rebels, a position he Hawkeye staff and loyal Brigade; Chaplain Observer to cultivate the character ers to impact the readiness highlighted that need even held for two years. backers of the football pro- Coach/Trainer, Joint Train- and attitude of a champion. of chaplains serving in the more, to be able to serve When Coach Grant Teaff gram. He was blessed with a ing Center; and Battalion Dr. Smith is currently writ- Army. In 2019 Chaplain people in that manner, espe- called and offered him a job loving family, many friends Chaplain, 142nd CSSB, ing his second book, Born to Smith also facilitated leader cially if you’re not feeling at Baylor as an assistant line and a wonderful career. His Fort Polk, Louisiana. Dr. Lead: Empowering a Team development and_ training well or you’ve got kids. This coach, John was ready for children still reminisce and Smith was recently selected of Champions. Dr. Smith’s for chaplains and religious has been something we've the challenge. Coach Te- entertain his seven grand- to attend the Army’s presti- International experience in- affairs specialists within always thought about.” aff’s friend, George Kirk, children with their fond gious Senior Service Col- cludes three combat tours three division level com- He said he hates to leave who had worked with John memories and funny stories lege (SSC) for Army Senior in Iraq and Afghanistan, He mands and five separate bri- in Amarillo, recommended about all the places they had leaders. He will attend upon partnered with various pro- gade commands to prepare the current building, as the him for the job. John often lived, completion of his current as- vincial leaders and religious pharmacy has been there in signment at the 7th ID. leaders to positively im- them to deploy, fight and commented on the strength Smith was born and raised the same space since 1920, of the coaches “grapevine” His previous military edu- pact the local communities win while providing Reli- in Elk City, Oklahoma. He but he thought it was time gious Support advisement to and how his first Texas job graduated from Elk City cation includes the Resident and their relationships with commanders and staffs with to move on. [The pharmacy led him to so many good for- High School in 1991, In Command and General Staff Military leaders. Through was previously where the tunes. 1994, he enlisted in the College, the Joint Plan- multiple key leader engage- whom they serve. He devel- current Dollar General is He thrived as a university Army where he served as ner Course, the National ments and humanitarian as- oped a training model at the National Training Center to located in the days previous football coach and advanced a chaplain assistant until Defense Strategy Course, sistance campaigns, he was from his first job as an assis- 2002, at which point he re- the Chaplain Officer Basic able to integrate very suc- coach, teach, and mentor to the current location.] He has owned the store for six tant coaching T Ends to ceived his commission as an and Advanced Courses, the cessfully within those envi- chaplains and Religious Af- Offensive Coordinator and Army Chaplain Candidate. Operational Religious Sup- ronments to create mission fairs Specialists who were years. preparing to deploy. He is Skinner appreciates the Special Assistant to Coach He became an Army Chap- port Leaders Course, the critical opportunities for Teaff. His recruiting ef- lain in May 2005S. Airborne Course, the Air leaders and Soldiers within married to Veronica Torres support from the commu- forts were recognized as Dr. Smith holds a Bach- Assault Course, and the his command. Smith of Sacramento, Cali- nity. an integral part of Baylor’selor’s degree in Psychology, Cadre Training Course. Dr. While serving as the Com- fornia. They have three chil- “We look forward to be- success in the SW Confer- Master of Divinity degree, Smith’s military awards in- bined Joint Special Opera- dren: Brianna Smith 20, Ga- ing here 100 more years,” he ence. He was also a popular Master of Theological Stud- clude the Bronze Star Medal tions Task Force-Afghani- brielle Smith 12, and Jaxton said. guest speaker and a suc- ies degree, and a Doctor of (3rd award), the Meritorious stan (CJSOTF-A) Command Smith 10, Send obituaries to ads @ecdailynews.com by 9 a.m. Monday for Tuesday and by 9 a.m Thursday for Friday.