People often talk about teachers who made a difference in their lives, giving advice and attention and offering lessons that extend far beyond a textbook or lecture. For Steve Smith, long-time meteorologist with First Coast News (now retired), that teacher was Mr. Boswell in his hometown of Gary, Indiana.
Smith was in Boswell’s speech class, and one day the teacher, who was also the producer of the school’s theater program, had a proposition. “He said, ‘Steven, with your voice, I might could use you in one of my productions,’” Smith recalled. “My chest went out, and I was like, ‘okay… okay …’”
Taking him up on his offer, Smith accepted an off stage voiceover role but during rehearsals, Boswell was so impressed he worked him into other roles, as well. The following year Smith was cast as the lead in Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” But as much as he enjoyed his experience in the theater, it wasn’t what he really wanted to be doing. “All that stuff got in the way of me being a jock. I wanted to wear a letterman’s jacket,” he admitted, “but never earned a letter.”
Smith remained in the theater appearing in several other plays before his family moved to Demopolis, Alabama before his senior year. There he found a job at a local radio station when he was only 17.
The radio station gig, while great for the experience, was far from the glamorous job he dreamed of — being the announcer for the Chicago Cubs — but recalling one of Mr. Boswell’s favorite sayings — “There are no small parts, only small actors,” he continued his journey toward Wrigley Field one step at a time.
As a student majoring in communications at the University of Alabama, Smith continued to appear in plays including “A Raisin in the Sun” in the role of Walter Lee Younger, the part played by Sidney Poitier in the 1961 film. The play was a “smashing success.” Smith, too, puts it near the top of the list of anything he’s ever done professionally.
Following graduation, Smith made his way into TV journalism with stops in Selma/Montgomery and Tuscaloosa/Birmingham. Then there was that fateful day in Mobile, when the news director called all of the reporters into the conference room to announce the station needed a new meteorologist. He asked for volunteers, and Smith was the only one who raised his hand. So without so much as Meteorology 101 under his belt, Smith became the station’s new meteorologist.
At first, he recalled, it was more than challenging. But he quickly got his bearings. “Weather gave me the chance to use my full range of ability from dead serious to completely silly and everything in between,” Smith said. That and he actually did learn about the weather. (He eventually earned a meteorology degree from Mississippi State University and received the seal of approval from the National Weather Service.)
By the late ‘80s, Smith arrived at Channel 12 (which became part of First Coast News) and quickly became a favorite with viewers. “Really, the people on the First Coast, they just embraced me right off the bat. Everything just seemed to work out and fall into place,” he recalled, which made those 28-plus years feel like they flew right by. As much as he misses his colleagues at FCN calling them “something special,” the 65-year-old is loving every minute of retirement.
He still jogs and swims, though, not as often as he should, he admitted. He continues to serve the community as a member of the Florida Theatre Board and by emceeing charity events. He also appreciates the opportunity to spend more time with his wife of 28 years Sadie, a principal at Mattie V. Rutherford Middle School.
Believe it or not, he said he occasionally misses the weather too. “I miss the severe weather because it’s the purest of all,” he added. Mother Nature is in your face so you just have to get in there and go with it.”
And in case anyone’s wondering if Smith still has the acting bug, the answer is a resounding “yes!” Sincere tiring, in fact, he (or at least the side of his head) has appeared in “Manhunt” on Apple TV+ and “Cobra Kai” on Netflix, “Watchmen” on HBO, as well as others. And last month, his latest project, playing a funeral mourner in“ Tyler Perry’s A Divorce in the Black” debuted on Amazon Prime. (He didn’t have any lines unfortunately, but if there were an Oscar category for Best Impromptu Use of a Hat at a Funeral, he would certainly get a nomination.) For that, Mr. Boswell, we thank you.
