1. Name & occupation?
I am Brandon Smith. I am in the process of starting my own company, Call Smitty. We are a general maintenance company aimed at lease make readies and general handyman services. My target clientele are property owners and managers in the Greater Amarillo area.
2. What led you to Amarillo? How long have you been here?
I was born and raised in Amarillo. I took about a ten year sabbatical to serve in the Navy. Not long after I was discharged, I came back.
3. What is a memory you have about the region that is no longer here?
The Sad Monkey Railroad. I rode that little train as often as I could when I would go to Palo Duro Canyon. My children will not get to experience that little part of my childhood, and that saddens me some.
4. What are some events that happened in your life that made you who you are?
I grew up with parents that worked very hard for what they had. My dad busted his knuckles fixing people's' cars to make sure his family was provided for. My mom worked some difficult jobs prior to hiring on at the church we attended. I knew that we weren't rich by societal standards, but we had everything we needed. During my school breaks, I would go out to my dad's shop and watch while he worked. He was, and still is, an expert in the automotive repair industry. I learned a lot about his trade, and the car business in general. I also learned how to fix things. If the sewer backed up, I learned how to clear it, if a chair broke, I learned how to repair it properly. The main thing that I gained was the ability to look at a problem and figure out solutions. This trait has been a very beneficial thing for me. I have drawn on that experience to fix seemingly impossible problems, and to rescue people in dire situations.
5. Where would you spend all your time if you could?
I love technology, computers, and electronics. However, if I could do whatever I wanted without concerns for bills or other responsibilities, I’d spend countless hours in the outdoors. Whether that be camping at PDC or the mountains, or snowboarding all over the world, it wouldn’t matter to me. I’ve always loved the outdoors, and I am happily passing that love for the outdoors on to my children.
6. Do you volunteer or sit on a board? Is yes where? If no where would you want to?
I volunteer with a couple Veterans organizations. As a vet, I feel it necessary for me to give back to the generations that came before me. Recently, I was approached about helping on the America - Celebrate, Honor, Serve board. That organization hosts the Flag Day Celebration at John Stiff Park, as well as hosting the Armed Forces Day Banquet. I am the Chair of the Trustees committee at my church, and with that honor, I’m required to sit on a few other committees that oversee the operation of my church. My church worship team allows me to sing, play bass and keyboard on a regular basis. I also serve on the board for the Tascosa NJROTC Booster Club.
7. What are you most passionate about?
There are a couple things that I am very passionate about. First and foremost, Veterans. Secondary to that, it’s music. As I said before, I want to give back to the generations before me that sacrificed so much for my freedoms. As far as music is concerned, I started my love for music at Coronado Elementary, playing the upright bass. I took piano lessons for about 5 years, and my second major at AC was in music. I currently play the piano, bass guitar, juice harp, dulcimer, and pick at the guitar. I have collaborated on writing a few songs. And have written a little bit by myself. During high school and college, I was a DJ both on radio and at dances.
8. What is the strangest thing you've ever come across?
This is a tough one. I have seen some very unusual things in my time! My answer wouldn't necessarily be a single item, or event but more of a series of events. I have an uncanny knack of running across people I know. Sometimes it's someone I've known for years, or have worked with them in some capacity. Often, it's a friend of a mutual friend, and we've crossed paths before. For instance, while on my honeymoon to Alaska, my wife and I went to see some of the places I lived in Kitsap County, Washington. At a business I used to frequent, I was talking to the owner. Come to find out, his mother used to attend my church in Amarillo when I was much younger. Talk about a small world! Those scenarios play out all the time around me.
9. What is something you can never seem to finish?
Scale models! I have about 6 or 7 models of various things that are more than half complete. I’ve got one of the submarine USS Michigan that’s painted, and mostly complete, yet is still in its box! Maybe my 2018 resolution should be to complete those models.
10. What do you wish Amarillo had or did not have?
Our city needs a large venue that seats around ten thousand people. We could also use a couple 1300-2000 seat venues that aren’t churches for concerts. I’ve had to turn away several concerts due to insufficient seating for their bands. The worst part is the Civic Center would be great for some of the shows. The problem is the outrageous fees and requirements for hosting a show there. For one of the bands I looked at hosting, the CC would have cost me nearly triple what the actual band would have cost! I could have gotten in to the MK Brown auditorium in Pampa for almost a quarter of the cost.
11. What direction do you think Amarillo is headed?
I think Amarillo is growing by leaps and bounds. We have decent unemployment numbers and reasonable taxes. Our issue seems to be the quality of the jobs that are abundant here. It seems another good service establishment opens every other month. Most people employed at a restaurant aren’t paid exceptionally well. They may be employed, but sometimes it’s not great. The City needs to be extremely proactive in courting companies that pay very well. One problem I have is the perception that the Southwest part of town owns and operates the whole town. Our city services seem to neglect anything not connected to the ballpark or north of I-40.
12. What else should readers know about you?
When WT used to play their basketball him games in the Civic Center, I went to watch several games. Sometimes the ROTC unit at WT would rappel down to the court during the opening ceremonies with the US flag. Younger me thought, “ That would be cool to do!” Because of a few chance encounters, I have aided in someone zip lining across the auditorium during a Venom half-time show, rappelled down after she was safely down, and rappelled Aussie style, in a Spider-Man costume, during a Bulls game opening ceremonies. Having the training and ability to do those stunts was mere chance, but it proves that you can do anything if you put your mind to it. Older me thinks that was an awesome experience to tell my grand kids about!!
