MEMBER SPOTLIGHT SMITH SAWMILL SERVICE
Smith Sawmill Service Dedicated. Compassionate. Successful.
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Left to Right: Dustin Norris, Debra Smith, Paul Smith, and Michael Smith
ost of us are familiar with the story of a rock band starting in their parent’s garage and going on to be a massive success in the music industry. Smith Sawmill Service is like those rock bands. Officially, Smith Sawmill Service began 30 years ago, in 1990. But in reality, it started much sooner. Founder Paul Smith, a third generation saw filer, began his career as a child when his father would put an upturned coke bottle crate on the floor so Paul could reach the saw.
Paul’s childhood taught him the value of his profession. In the ‘70s, Paul was in high school and needed to earn some extra money, so he did what most teenagers do. He got a part-time job. But unlike most teenagers, he didn’t just get one part-time job; he got three! Paul recalls, “I worked at three local sawmills. Each mill paid me $100 a week to keep their circle saws hammered and their tools in good shape. Between those three jobs, I would earn over $300
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a week—while in high school!” In today’s economy, that is about $1,400 a week (accounting for inflation). “People said I earned more than my teachers because I always drove a new car, and I had a boat and all kinds of stuff. It was an exciting way to grow up.” By 1990, Paul decided to start his own saw shop in his parent’s tiny two-car garage. Working in such a small place had its challenges, W W W. N H L A .C O M
