Liz and Jim Smith
156 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE
photography by win wolloff
| MAY/JUNE 2016
What do you consider to be your greatest
achievement?
Liz: Raising my daughter. I was a single parent from
the time she was two until she was a junior in high
school. I used to say she grew up so well “in spite” of
me and not “because” of me. But, secretly, I really hope
the opposite is true. It was and is a privilege to be her
mom.
Jim: Raising my five children to become caring and
successful adults. But, I’m not done… yet.
What is your motto?
Liz: Don’t stop until you’re proud. Give it
everything.
Jim: Lead, follow, or get the Hell out of the way.
How would you describe yourself?
Liz: As an odd combination of “really sweet” and
“don’t mess with me or mine.”
Jim: Driven, compassionate, introspective,
empathetic, and stubborn (maybe).
What would you title your autobiography?
Liz: “I Used to Be…” Because all those things I
used to be – a designer, single-parent, daughter,
entrepreneur, etc. – make me who I am now.
Jim: “When I Came to the Fork in the Road, I Took It!”
What first name would you have given yourself?
Liz: Ruth. My mother had five sisters. The sister
closest to her in age, Ruth Oclo, was married, but never
had children. After I was born (the last of the children
of that generation), she said to my mom that she wished
she had named me for her. I wish I could have honored
her through my parents’ name choice! Although, just
Ruth…the middle name of Oclo she could keep!
Jim: Gustav. My Uncle Gus, my grandfather’s
brother, was the first person I remember who was
larger than life. He was a big Swedish guy and the
entire family revered him. He entered a room and
simply commanded it.
What musical instrument do you play, or would
like to be able to play?
Liz: I would give anything to be able to sing (I
consider that a musical instrument.) My sweet husband
is the only person on the planet who says he thinks I
have a good voice! But, what a gift that would be!
Jim: The Cello. Its sound, richness, and depth… It is
one of the instruments that plays the theme in Dvorak’s
9th Symphony, my absolute favorite. 9
Elizabeth (Liz) Smith grew up in Central Florida and
graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Interior
Design from the School of Architecture at Auburn
University. After practicing commercial design for twenty
years, she joined her family business operating a private
elementary school in Winter Park. Since marrying Jim
and moving to Clearwater, she is semi-retired and only
returns to the school two or three times a month, which
leaves her lots of time to follow her artistic roots, as she
works with Jim at their studio and gallery. Jim moved
to Clearwater in 1972, running his high-tech electronics
company for twenty years. He served two terms in the
Florida House of Representatives and was the Pinellas
County Property Appraiser for 20 years. Since 2009,
he has been following his childhood love of art as
J. Harrison Smith, a bronze sculptor. He and Liz have
Gallery 1356 on Fort Harrison Avenue in Clearwater,
and he is chair of the North Pinellas County Cultural
Alliance and a member of the board of the Clearwater
Arts Alliance. He and Liz are active supporters of Ruth
Eckerd Hall and several local charities. Between them,
they have six children, six grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
What is your favorite word?
Liz: “Wanderlust,” because it is not only a beautiful
word, but I associate the desire to travel with the desire
to live.
Jim: Yes.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Liz: An architectural professor at Auburn advised
me to change my major to anything other than
Architecture/Interior Design. The best part of his
advice is I didn’t take it, and I never regretted it! It just
gave me more resolve to continue and to be one of the
best in my class.
Jim: One of my early art teachers advised me to
ALWAYS take the high road. I do try.
What don’t people know about you?
Liz: As a kid, I was a competitive roller skater!
Jim: That I really have a serious side.
What are your favorite words of wisdom?
Liz: I’m not sure who said it, but “Be a girl with a
mind, a woman with attitude, and a lady with class.”
Jim: “The unexamined life is not worth living.”
Socrates