Smitty’s Sporting Goods. Who all knew Smitty?

Let’s hear some stories

I'll go first. I knew them all.

Jimmy Smith jumped into the back of a pickup truck as the shoplifter sped away. He forced the sliding back window of the truck open and put a .38 Special to the guy's head and said if you don't stop the truck I'll blow your brains out.

Good folks! I enjoyed going up there and talking to Jimmy, about fishing. Miss the worm bars all the family owned mom and pop shops had.

I miss Smitty's. Was the best Sporting goods store in town, IMO. Lots of good information and fun came from my time visiting Smitty's. Doesn't Jimmy guide for Hybrids out at Tawakoni.

I sold a lot of rods reels and tackle to the Smiths back then. They were nice people. Never had a cash register in the store.

I grew up in Oak Cliff and went to high school with Jimmy and during the 90's especially when it was night fishing time I would call Jimmy on Monday to put in my order for Hilldebrandt Spinnerbaits and the size of the order would always tell Jimmy what sort of weekend I had. It was great fishing the Century Bass Club with him back in those days and just sitting around with him and all of the guys just telling stories and maybe playing a little dice on the front of someones boat. Also the customer service with Jimmy and his mom and dad was awesome. If anything happened to your All Star rods they carried you just took it in and hand it to Jimmy, go pick out a new one on the rack and head on.

Does anyone remember the credit manager at Smitty's?

Smitty’s was greatness

Was that Jimmy's mom?

OK...nobody remembers the sign above the register. "If you want credit go to Helen Waite". Current day orders from online sources cannot match the feeling of hanging out in some of the old tackle shops like Smitty's. I suppose the young anglers today are making their own kind of memories. I hope they are as profound and lasting as those that happened 50 years ago.

No, it was Kathy and she went to the Fishing Store in Garland and worked for many year before they closed the store. Kathy was Jimmy's aunt but not sure what side of the family.

My Dad on his off days at least once a week would get me up and our routine was, hit Walker's in G.P., Ketchum & Killum, Doak Walker's, Cullum & Borren outlet in Winnewood Shopping Center, then over to Smitty's, walk to Slims to eat some barbeque, then Ray's gun shop and home. The following week we'd hit a pawn shop sporting good store in Irving, want to say a guy named Paul owned it. Then we'd go up 121 to a tackle store in Lewisville then back down to Barlows, Barber another one real close and then SW Parts. Thanks Dad for a great childhood!

Rocky that’s awesome.

I spoke to Jimmy Smith this morning. He & his wife Bunny are doing very well living in Edgewood. He still guides on T-wok but not on weekends. He also runs trips to Mexico several times a year. It was good catching up with him on the phone.

If any of you folks on this thread ever meet me in person, I can tell you a story. Not going to put it on here. T-Bass may know it, but I don't think so. Franklin and Helen were two of the best!! Gary, the gun guy, was a good guy also. If you want some interesting discussion, talk to Jimmy about when he came to grips with Academy coming to town and selling everything cheap cheap. It's sad. Love you Jimmy!