Tourism Director Still Believes in the Magic
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[At the time in life when many of her one-time classmates were beginning to think seriously about retirement, Judy Smid opened her first business.
What started out as a part-time hobby while working for others, suddenly developed into "Judy and Company" in 1994. And, life hasn't been the same for Judy Smid since.
"Probably not many people remember our first store," Judy said. "We opened at one of Du Quoin's oldest business locations, Campanella's Market on North Wells Street. I was 50 at the time and a few of my friends questioned the decision, but it's been a good move. I discovered that I enjoyed it and just kept going."
Three years later Judy moved her shop to 1 East Main Street, another of Du Quoin's most prominent business locations, and was there until just three years ago when the business was again re-located at 212 East Main, just two doors from still another of the city's landmarks, the Grand Theater.
"We changed the name just slightly, to "Favorite Things By Judy & Company" when we made the last move," Judy said. "It's really been good for us, but we still have a lot of customers that come in, look around and are amazed at what we have to offer. We hear the 'we didn't know you were here' comment quite often, so we know the business is still growing."
Evaluating herself as "a jack of all trades and master of none", Judy has become involved in several major projects in the community, all of which resulted in her being named the Du Quoin Chamber of Commerce's "Citizen of the Year" in 2007.
"Oh, yeah, that was quite an honor for me and one that I'll never forget," Judy said.
And at the same time, she credits Wanda Rednour for getting her deeply involved with one of Du Quoin's finest projects, the "Holiday Lights Fair" and the tourism committee which she is now serving perhaps a lifetime term as president.
"Tourism and Du Quoin's Historic Preservation committees are my only two out-of-the-store involvements right now," Judy said. "I just don't have time for sororities or garden clubs even though I'm interested in many of the other activities in Du Quoin. We just have a lot going on around here even though not everyone is aware of it. We're busy."
And busy Judy will remain until after the first of the year following another successful run of the "Holiday Lights Fair" and when business slows somewhat.
"It's because we have so many community-minded volunteers like Pene Harbuck, Jackie Williams, Ralph Hemmer and wife Sharon, Don and Beverly Harsy, Ellen Conte, Danny Sizemore and Tom Murray Rev. Rich Luh, Luana Maxton, Karen Jackson, Wanda Rednour, Richard Smid, Dave Eaton and Linda Paris. She also thanks the Illinois Department of Corrections High Impact Incarceration facility in cooperation with the Du Quoin State Fair that allows the Holiday Lights show to grow," Judy said. "It's bigger and better every year as we're reaching out by word of mouth throughout the area. We believe we had approximately 5,000 cars last year and estimated 20-to-25,000 people viewed the show. It's great," she added.
Claiming there's no secret to her energy level and that she doesn't take any pills while at the same time adding, "but maybe I should", Judy admits that the thought of retirement has entered her mind.
"Perhaps some day I'll say that enough is enough, but as long as I enjoy it and my husband, Richard, doesn't complain, I'll probably just keep going. Although he's retired, he's never idle and my grown children, Leanna Rolla (O'Fallon), Melissa Clagg (Champaign) and Rich (Du Quoin) seem to agree, so I'll probably just hang in there."
It'll be to the City of Du Quoin's betterment.