As we grow older, it is common that we begin to reflect more often upon the people and events that have led us to our current place in life. With age comes a deeper, broader supply of memories and life experiences that allows us a deeper perspective of and respect for the series of past events that would eventually culminate in our singular, present reality. Each of us has a unique story: an individual manner of thinking that has been influenced by the people, places, circumstances, hardships, and successes that we encounter and experience in our lives.
Eric Smith, owner and founder of J.E.S. Equipment Sales & Service and a native of Calhoun Falls, has been pondering heavily about this sort of retrospection lately. During his high school years, Eric played football for Calhoun Falls High School, where his football coaches helped instill in him a sense of drive, determination, and commitment. Especially poignant to Eric was the frequently repeated motivational shout of Coach Henry “Mad Dog” Madden: “Don’t you give up on me, Smith!”
Don’t you give up on me, Smith!
These words have remained powerful to Eric to this day, and he attributes much of his “never give up” attitude to the leadership and inspiration offered to him by his high school coaches. This attitude has played a large part in enabling both Eric and his wife Vivian to build J.E.S. Restaurant Equipment from a small, single-truck service company into an expanding, fully-staffed business that has proven highly successful both online and within the regional community.
Seeking ways to give back to Eric’s hometown community, the Smiths have, with the cooperation of the Calhoun Falls Charter School board and booster club, created a new annual scholarship to be awarded to one Calhoun Falls student per year who demonstrates an outstanding personal commitment to perseverance and determination. The Rosser Madden Edward Botts J.E.S. “Don’t You Quit on Me” Award is open to all students, and will grant the awardee $1,000 toward the cost of tuition. In the spirit of Coach Madden’s motivational words, the scholarship will be awarded based on merit specific to each candidate’s unique display of dedication, whether it be sacrifice in the name of academic success, a commitment to athletic excellence, or courage in the face of physical or mental disability, among others.
J.E.S. Restaurant Equipment is very excited to officially announce the first annual Rosser Madden Botts J.E.S. Award, and is looking forward to continuing to contribute to the Calhoun Falls Charter School community in the years to come.
JES Award