Jay Smith doesn't claim to have been the star player or class valedictorian during his years at Vandalia High School. But if you ask around town, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't know his name—or someone who hasn't seen him serve.

"I was in three sports," Jay says with a laugh. "Not good at any of them, but I showed up. Baseball, basketball, football. Tried wrestling too—but those lights are awfully bright when you're staring at them from your back."

Class of 1970, Jay graduated in Vandalia's largest-ever senior class—162 strong. "We were the baby boomers," he notes, "right in the thick of it all. Sex, drugs, rock and roll. Fast cars, Camaros, GTOs. I had a '58 Chevy."

After graduation, Jay headed to Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas—the Swedish capital of the Midwest—where he played baseball and earned his degree. From there, he moved to Lone Jack, Missouri, where John Wayne filmed part of True Grit, beginning his teaching and coaching career. "Made $6,000 and got $200 for coaching," he recalls of 1974.

After teaching in Patoka, Jay spent seven years in education at Vandalia Correctional Center. "I got out on good behavior," he jokes. The transition to insurance came out of necessity—"needed money"—but became his calling. Over 30 years later, he's still at it, specializing in life and health insurance, including Aflac work. "Yeah, with the duck," he grins.

But Jay's true passion has been officiating—a 50-year career including Illinois high school football championships and 30 years of NCAA Division II games. That career led to one of the most powerful moments Jay has witnessed of community solidarity.

After the tragic accident that claimed the lives of Jenna and Holly and Randy's parents, Jay officiated a semifinal game between Williamsville—the team Vandalia had been playing—and Quincy Notre Dame.

"I walked on the field and saw Williamsville warming up with Vandalia logos on their helmets," Jay remembers. "And prior to the game, they had prayer before the national anthem. Prayer for Vandalia. You see a lot of good in people."

Jay's own experience with tragedy deepened his understanding of how communities respond in crisis. His middle son Adam passed away at age nine from cancer. "The school system wasn't equipped to handle something like that," he reflects. "But the people were. They were prepared because they were just good people."

That experience shaped Jay's worldview and informed his work on the Vandalia School Board during another crisis—a bus accident that left the district financially devastated and underinsured. With good fiscal leadership, the district recovered.

Today, his son Andy works for a plumbing contractor in Vandalia while his daughter-in-law teaches second grade. His other son Eric has worked for the Sarasota County Sheriff's department in Florida for 20 years. Between them, Jay has eight grandchildren—four in Vandalia and four in Florida.

As an insurance broker, Jay gets asked frequently about the best coverage to buy. His answer reveals his life philosophy: "I would invest in the 3F insurance," he tells clients. "Get you a good circle of friends. Rely on your family. The third F is your faith. If you've got that going for you, somebody's going to step up."

This philosophy reflects Jay's fundamental belief about learning and growth. "I consider myself in a good spot to learn from people, you know, learn about life," he says. That humility extends to his advice for younger generations. When asked what he'd tell his sophomore self, Jay chuckles. "Direction. I was motivated, just not in the right direction."

Jay's legacy isn't defined by any single achievement—it's built through decades of consistent service. Whether teaching, coaching, officiating, selling insurance, or serving on the school board, he's always been present when people need guidance.

"Most of your memories are of the people you grew up with," he reflects. "Just the goodness in people. I think you can find that in a lot of different areas, but you got to look for it and cultivate it."

In Jay Smith's story, we see what it means to cultivate goodness—through showing up, serving others, and remaining humble enough to keep learning. His "3F insurance" reminds us that the best protection in life comes from the connections we build, one relationship at a tim