County commission honors Tink Smith, acclaimed wildlife photographer, storyteller

Liz Beavers
Cumberland Times-News

September 07, 2007 11:52 am

— KEYSER - Visit Keyser High School, Friend Hall at Potomac State College or any number of offices located throughout the state and chances are you may see a framed wildlife photograph taken by Piedmont native Glenn "Tink" Smith.
A whitetail deer that appears to be gazing straight at the camera, serenely munching on leaves. Two wild turkeys gathered in the woods; tail feathers in full fan. A wild lady slipper with a single drop of rain falling from its pink petals.
These are just some of the more recognizable images captured by Smith's camera over the years, as the meticulous photographer became known for his patience, sometimes sitting for hours on end to capture a single, perfect image of an animal in its natural habitat.
Smith's "up-close-and-personal" photos of wild turkeys are what he is best known for, so it was fitting that the Mineral County Commission recently declared the first day of West Virginia fall turkey season - Oct. 20 this year - as Glenn "Tink" Smith Day.
Commission President Janice LaRue said the honor recognizes Smith for his lifetime of achievement and for the many contributions he has made to Mineral County and the state.
She said he has been a vital part of her life, and many Mineral Countians' lives, over the years.
"He was at my door delivering the mail, he was with my husband during basketball and he has sat in front of me in church forever," she said.
As a number of family members and friends gathered at the courthouse to witness the signing of the proclamation declaring Smith's special day, he entertained them with stories of his childhood, including his first encounter with wild turkeys.
Recalling the day that his grandfather had failed to shoot a turkey because he felt he would only spook the flighty birds, Smith said his father had a bit different result when he arrived at the family farm.
"Here came my dad with a turkey flung over his back, and its wings were flappin'. That was 90 years ago, and I can still remember every bit of it," he said.
"I've been very fortunate. I can remember the first lickin' I got; I can remember the first kiss I got."
The 96-year-old is a graduate of Piedmont High School who attended Potomac State College from 1932-34, when he was a standout guard on the basketball team and later on the West Virginia University team.
He progressed to play semi-professional ball in the mid-1930s, and remained active in local youth sports programs, having helped coach two state champion teams and five runners-up from his hometown.
After retirement and a lifetime of hunting wild turkeys, he decided to put down his hunting rifle and pick up a camera. At age 75, he began taking the photographs that would earn him acclaim throughout the state and among wildlife groups and hunting organizations across the nation.
Smith has earned many awards for his nature photography, including first place in the National Wild Turkey Federation photo contest in 1982.
He was named West Virginia Sportsman of the Year in 1983, West Virginia's Foremost Wildlife Photographer in 1984 and the National Wild Turkey Federation's C.B. McLeod Distinguished Service Award winner for Outstanding Support Through the Media in 1988.
His work has appeared in Wild Wonderful West Virginia, National Wild Turkey Federation Magazine, Turkey Call Magazine and Turkey Hunting Magazine, among others.
Locally, he was awarded an honorary associate's degree in fine arts in May 2002 and a Distinguished Service Award in October 2006 from Potomac State College.
Throughout all of his years of accomplishments, Smith has been eager to share tales of his life with friends, family and anyone eager to listen.
As the ink dried on the proclamation honoring Smith for the way he has touched so many lives, lifetime friend Danny Adams summed up the sentiments of the day.
"You are truly a special person; just by being you," he said.
Liz Beavers can be reached at lbeavers@times-news.com.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.