Booster club members Crystal Hanson, Julie Plowman, Melissa Shadlow and Kim Betts with Steve Smith

From teacher to principal, and finally as superintendent, one Guthrie County resident spent most of his life serving two school districts and its students, and thanks to a local club his impact won’t be forgotten.

The Adair-Casey/Guthrie Center Booster Club presented recently retired superintendent Steve Smith with a commemorative victory bell Tuesday installed in front of Guthrie Center High School. The bell sits atop a brick pedestal with a plaque honoring his 43 years of service to the two districts. Booster Club Secretary Julie Plowman describes the quote that was engraved into the plaque, “We really put a lot of thought into what we wanted it to say. We wanted a quote on there and anyone in either district or past students, athletes, anyone that’s been coached by Mr. Smith over the years I’m sure has heard him say, his coined phrase is, ‘Do what is best for the kids.’ And that is the top phrase on the plaque and he just lived by that, that was something that he always told everyone making decisions to remember that.”

The monument was gifted by the club, and approved by the Guthrie Center School Board last June. The boosters purchased the bell from an Adel business which was acquired from an old school building. Plowman says they chose it as a positive symbol of how victorious Smith was for the schools. For photos of the monument, visit this story at raccoonvalleyradio.com.