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From YouTube: Aiken Award Recipient Lionel "Smitty" SMITH
Description
Our next award recipient has been an ambassador for Aiken for over 40 years. He has demonstrated what client service is supposed to be. He lives his life to add value to those around him. The family has always been a priority in this recipient's business and every visitor feels like they are a part of his before they leave. There are people who live around our country and world who plan trips so they can come to visit his retail establishment. He falls into a unique group of people who are simply identified by one name. Madonna, Elvis, Prince, and this Aiken Award winner. Let’s see what others had to say.
A
Loyalty
is
the
word
that
I
would
like
to
use.
I've
first
introduced
a
line
on
when
he
came
to
town.
He
was
working
at
Belk
and
Aiken
when
it
was
on
Lawrence
Street.
She
worked
there
a
while
and
later
Manning
Owens
gave
him
an
opportunity
to
move
Manning
lines
as
a
men's
shop.
That
was
on
the
other
side
of
Lawrence
Street
from
Belk,
and
he
went
to
work
for
Manning
Islands,
but
he
was
loyal
and
a
very
true
friend
to
Manning
up
until
Manning's
last
days.
A
Lau
is
a
person
that
has
character
integrity
and
what
you
see
in
Lionel
is
what
you
get
when
you
meet
one
on
his
a
person.
That
is
the
same,
no
matter
where
he
is.
If
it
is
a
church
in
the
store
on
the
street
or
out
just
on
the
101
basis,
he's
the
same
person
he's
a
gentleman
and
a
friend
and
I
feel
very
privileged
to
be
able
to
call
him
a
friend.
B
He
is
a
person
that
if
he
ever
met
you
and
knew
your
name,
he
never
forgot
it
and
that
he
still
does
that
today,
Smitty
always
had
the
aspiration
of
owning
his
own
men's
store
and
through
that
I
think
it
takes
determination,
competitiveness
to
attain
all
of
those
things
which
he
did
and
has
continue
to
do
throughout
his
lifetime
and
through
the
years
I
think
we
have
tried
to
do
that.
He
still
today
is
my
mentor.
The.
C
Word
that
I
would
choose
for
Lionel.
My
dad
is
wisdom,
so
growing
up.
He
showed
me
the
way
when
working
in
the
store
I
would
help
him
out
on
the
store,
and
you
know,
do
little
things.
I
do
work
in
alterations,
I'd
be
out
front
and
he
taught
me
how
to
tie
a
bow
tie,
a
real
bow
tie.
He
taught
me
to
do
that.
He
taught
me
a
really
good
work
ethic.
C
C
The
foresight
of
what
people
would
need
in
the
Aiken
area
in
the
men's
clothing
world
he's
not
only
been
a
great
father
to
myself
and
my
brother
van,
but
also
a
great
husband
to
a
mom
for
over
50
years.
That
I
don't
even
know
how
long
they've
been
married,
but
it's
a
long
time.
So,
thank
you
so
much
and
I
love
you.
D
Dependability
is
the
character
words
that
I
would
use
for
you
dad
you've
always
been
there
for
everybody.
You
put
them.
First
put
us
first,
you
have
the
ability
to
make
everybody
feel
special
and
you
do
a
lot
of
things
for
everybody.
Several
things
I've
learned
from
you
is
you
put
God.
First,
second
is
family
and
friends
and
you're.
You
were
always
third
I,
really
respect
that,
because
you
put
everybody
into
a
position
that
is
better
than
you,
which
is
very
professional
and
also
it's
very
family-oriented.
D
C
Daddy
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you
for
everything
that
you've
done
for
me.
The
guidance
that
you've
given
me
in
life
in
work
in
everything
that
I've
done.
Even
when
I
don't
agree
with
you.
Sometimes
you
still
accept
it,
and
you
accept
me
and
I
really
appreciate
that.
So
thank
you
and
I
love.
You
Lonnie.