Veteran's Affairs Plus discusses the issues that veterans in Las Vegas deal with on a daily basis. Your host, David L. Washington connects listeners with relevant community resources and information that they need to help veterans or themselves.
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Good morning Las Vegas. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and, man, I got some exciting guests here today. And I used to say I'm excited. I these guys are exciting because of the work that they do within our community. So we have a brother Rodney Smith, of course, and retired captain out a lot North Las Vegas Fire Department said Williams. So hang on to your seats, y'all we got a lot to talk about. First I'd like to mention, this is a bill Daniels recently passed away. The wife of a golf coach, Lee Daniels, I just learned at our services, in fact that she was inspirational in getting Lee and Johnny Griffin to even start the junior golf program. And, boy, if I had known that, gentleman, I would have stepped up to that mic and said something about it. Because some, you know, people say he speak at every field. No, I do not I speak if I have something to say. And if I know the person I don't know, I didn't know her very well. But for what she has done in terms of getting young folks involved in golf. She's very this lady was very, very quiet. Nice, cool, laid back. I never seen her raise her voice. But she whispered in her ear in the year of her deceased husband, she is as well now and saw the brother and told him y'all need to do something for our kids. Y'all run around and spend all his time on a golf course. What y'all gonna do for the children? So cap, I know you can relate to that. Look. Something else I want to say real quickly, I, I talked about some birthdays at the last show. And that was my wife, of course any bunch of very Feaster. There's a few people who are having birthdays in the month of February. Also, I talked a little bit of it. And I'll say a couple more words about retired and recently became an ancestor, battalion chief Lawrence Wickliffe. Again, as I mentioned, Lawrence, and I never became very close. But one thing I knew about him and people said it continuously about him, he was a master on the fire ground. He knew it very, very well. So hope God was pleased with the brother. And you know, we've lost a number of firefighters recently, and I don't I don't know what Lawrence his particular case was. But for Mike Patterson, Clark County Fire Department, I didn't know about Mike paths until he had passed. Then we had Bernie Rhodes. There are several others that I keep telling these guys, man. And I know right and you are familiar with the legislative process as you are Cedric. Look, I don't care nothing about what the law says. Because it can be changed. And what they did was initially if you came down, and I call the firefighters, whether you've been to the military or not, they are our domestic warriors. So I suggest that we start fighting, pushing nerding whatever we got to do, I don't care from the state to the federal, legislature, legislate legislators, look that at first it was only about five or six cancers that that one would have you come down with it. The federal government gives some stipend to your family. Now it's more and then and when Vinnie Scott and him Dave Nim died, it was only if you contracted cancer like 10 years after you retired thing or you can talk to you now they have passed a law that says more cancers and they will talk to you and they will do things for your family. But anybody before 2019 scratch them from the books and I'm like wait a minute, we can send all this money to all these other countries you name and we send money and we can take care of the families of our domestic warriors at that Ramadan Tony sent me a yang Oh, never stop stirring. Oh yes and no man because we help everybody around the world. These are domestic warriors that in their families need to be taken care of. So hang on. regular internet. My first guest, Mr. Rodney Smith, how you doing, brother?
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I am doing well. Thank you for bringing me on the show for
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sure would please enlighten our listening guests. Our audience listening. Yes, our audience a little bit about who Rodney is and what branch of service Did you serve in and how long.
Unknown Speaker 5:19
So my family is from North Carolina. My great grandfather actually was a slave in South Carolina. During the Great Migration, my mom moved to New York. I grew up in New York, Brooklyn, Bed Stuy to be exact, and went to college, didn't couldn't get a job. And Air Force has always hired. So join the Air Force in 1981. And that's actually what brought me out to Las Vegas, I was stationed on the test facility. And that exposed me to Las Vegas. And believe me, the only thing I knew about Nevada was the Ponderosa and bonanza. And then, I went and did a couple of tours someplace else, when when it was time to retire, the only place I could think of to retire. Matter of fact, there was no other place that I considered retiring. Other than Las Vegas, I thought it was uniquely suited for young people and specifically African American people to grow up with the city. But also, I saw it as being the crossroads of this country, and an opportunity to change this country right here from Las Vegas. Okay,
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so what were your jobs while in the military job or jobs, so
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the technical description was tactical aircraft maintenance specialist. And then from that, because my first aircraft was 837, and various models of F fours and most time on F or G while weasels, I got picked for some classified programs. And one of the aircraft that came out of that was some of the aircraft that came out of those programs was the F 117. A stealth fighter, the b two, a spirit as well as the F 22. So and some other things that have yet to be publicly acknowledged.
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So I mean, use you sir. 2626. Okay. All right. The captain retired. The tracks, the track men and former treasurer for camp, brotherhood camps. This brother, he have it all over with young people. That's why he has a young Look, man, you cut that stuff off your face. You look like you're 17 What's going on? Nothing
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much, chief. Thank you very much for having me. I'm honored to be here. Thank you for inviting me. Yes, yeah.
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When I saw I made the parade. I'm like, Man, I see. Yes. And when I saw him on his podcast, I still got. I am. So man, I'm so challenged when it comes to technology. I was watching him and my cousin. And I want you to talk a little bit about that in a minute. But I was so excited about what they were talking about these young people, man, and somebody called me and I lost it. I couldn't find it. I gotta get back to the show. But tell us what branch of the military did you serve and how long I
Unknown Speaker 8:27
served in the US Army. And I did for eight years, right out of high school. I joined I joined out of necessity. I was a young kid here born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. had a rough growing up, I was actually homeless at 12 years old. And I ended up my grandparents took me in, came out found me took me in and and raised me from that point. And so in high school, I was I was supposed to be one of the first kids to go off to college. And I had a little girlfriend. And, and those plans got changed because she got we got pregnant and and and I remember my grandfather, he you saw he didn't know what he was what he was doing when he was pouring in me but he always used to pour into me. And we were driving down Lake Mead and and Las Vegas Boulevard one day, and at this time I knew she was pregnant. And I saw we saw a young man pushing a stroller with a baby and and and he said you see that? He said that's called taking care of your responsibilities. Right? And so I didn't tell him turned down my my scholarship but when I did I think that was the first time my grandmother cried because of something I did so I could not take care of her baby So I decided that the young lady that was pregnant, she was going to join the military. So I was like, well, since she can't, I will. And it helped us. We ended up getting married. We had two children out of that marriage and still good friends to this day. And, and so I joined the army went off to Fort Drum, New York, where I was a 76 Yankee wish I'd known when I was taking those tests, okay, you're smart. You guys got to know which job to pick. And so,
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so tell those those non military folks what the 76 year, so
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they are a quartermaster, basically, their unit supply small arm specialists. So when I came out at and joined it, at 18 years of age, they set me in an arms room signed over $20 million of equipment and told me go fly. And so that's where it started for me. Eventually, I promoted ended up coming out there going into our battalion. And, and when it was getting time for my ETS, and time served, they tried to recruit me to take over the whole battalions arms room, and they offered some money back then those MOS is were highly sought after. And I went and visited and I was really thinking about it, but in Fort Drum, New York. It's no it's an old town U S. Eight, and I hit two mice after that trip. Black ice that is Yeah. And, and I did not stop rolling. I said, Dale, I am done. It's time to leave. And so I did three active years there. It was actually during Desert Storm, and then I did five years reserve. Okay.
Unknown Speaker 11:49
Cool. Now, Ronnie, back to you, even though you dispute my my definition of you, or, or suggestion that you are an activist? And you said you're a farmer. That's something that you see. So anyway, I know that you do a lot. I know. There's something that you've been doing annually at the Martin Luther King statute. Tell our listening audience a little bit about that. And then then I want to roll into what you were doing on the podcast where you were talking about the youth.
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So about 17 years ago, a young lady came up to me and says, Rodney, can you believe that not doing anything in the community for Martin Luther King's birthday? And I was a little surprised, and said, well, let's call up to city council. Let's call up the commission and let's find out what's going on. And pretty much they told us if we wanted something to do with ourselves. And so that young lady was Stephanie Washington. So that's what we did is we wanted to people to recognize the significance of our Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statue, the fact that it's on a street, formerly Highland Drive that was named after at the time, there was only about 125 streets in the country that were named after Dr. Martin Luther King, and we had one, and none of them had a statue on it. So we had a street named after Dr. King. We had a statue on this larger than life size statue on the street named after Dr. Martin Luther King. It also had running water to go along with his speech. And I thought we have one of the most remarkable statues of Dr. King in the world. And at the time, I think there was only like, maybe nine or 10 that even existed, and right where North Las Vegas and Las Vegas met to show unity which was right in line with Dr. King in the beloved community. We said we have to do something. So that's when we started playing the speeches at the Dr. King statue. And that turned out turned into the annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. candlelight vigil. We just had our 16th annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. candlelight vigil. And at that time, I did a presentation of passing the baton to a younger group, a team of people so if they so choose, that they could carry that on and, and I wanted it to be a public display of transition. So that people my age and some even older would see that it is okay to pass it on to the younger people.
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You know, to that point. I know Cedric knows that I've run a nonprofit called the coral homes executive development institute. I'm the president and CEO. I call myself the leader from the middle because I there will be one doctor home he's a he's an ancestor now. But I report to five directors because see Dave Washington, sometimes I can be crazy, man. I'm not sure. I tell him. I move shoot up the place and then ask questions. data. And sometimes I get in trouble. And I've been in trouble a lot. But the bottom line for me is I know. And I've already told the board that maybe two years I'll be gone. And we need to be trying to prepare on who we think should be the leader, the next leader, because one thing I have always felt you can't stay around forever. And Las Vegas Fire and Rescue fire chief six years, I feel I just started to ship the turn the ship to build a better culture. cultures can, as we know, can change in shorthand, sometimes take a long time. They still lengthy and I'm not gonna stay around. I've been retired, I think 17 years now. And you know what? Don't call me by none down there? Because I don't work down. And do I care? Yes. Because I'm keeping my eyes on, as I mentioned in a text to you, and I'm coming to you now, we'll come back to you on the young people thing. But it is so important that we just don't go for anything, we need to stand up and be counted. And I'm seeing things that bothers me because this brother should have been. And I know you want to put a muzzle on it. No, don't put no muzzle on me because I got something to say. You should have been a chief officer. And they still, how long have you been retired now? Almost six years. That's something and they still and I met with an individual twice trying to make that happen. Because in politics, there's always some give and take. And they'd be they'd be the school, we all school, they horse trade all the time. And then I'm telling this one, somebody must owe you something I'm thinking, couldn't get it done. But it it bothers me because to this day, and you look throughout this valley, and see how many chief officers are there, and how few there are of African descent. And that's unfortunate is sad. And we are sharp. And you know how many chief officers have come out of EDL. And how many fire chiefs. So we know we got the skill set, and you graduated from media. And that's not to say, don't get me wrong. And I won't call his brother's name, because he's still mad at me because he went through Ed, I thought he should be a chief officer and won't do certain things. And I'm watching you not do rather, you know, as well as anybody else. You never know who's watching you. So you stay on top of your game all the time. Tell us about what's going on at a school that you're that you're running the track to, I want to know something about that, because I didn't realize you was over there. I have
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been coaching track and field, this will be my 33rd year of coaching. And my life story is wide do it. And I feel like it's been a calling for me. So I never wanted to go to high school. But some of my athletes and some of their and some of their parents, were going to this school, which is faith Lutheran High School. And and so they kind of they kind of did have four corner press on me. And so I volunteered. Yeah. And so and I love it. I'm working on my third generation of kids that have gone on and had wonderful lives that always remember and continue to give back. And so yeah, it's it's a, it's a blessing to have that opportunity to still be able to do
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that. Absolutely. In what I love about coaches in general outcome on all sports, black, white, male, female coaches. They touch so many lives, man, not everybody is going to become the ultimate track started. Everybody loves the use on bowls and all of that. But the character that you guys helped to develop? It is,
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yeah, me I tell them. One, I call them my babies and I tell them my job is to get you to and through college and be productive citizens in this community. And if you don't select college, at least we have a plan. That's some type of a foundation and I've had kids that have been on my been with me since they were five years old in grown with kids now men are on a team. So yeah, it's it's it's it was my my call for certain. Great,
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excellent. So that's perfect segue into the youth. Now, this thing that you and my cousin was talking about Miss bywaters. Does he have a PhD now? Or is she working on a PhD?
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She's still working on a doctoral thesis.
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Okay. Tell us about what you guys had your big discussion about, like I say I miss part of couldn't get back but I'll feel it. So
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Camila bywaters is running for school board trustee of district II. And one of the things that we had spoken about was so many parents say once they get elected we don't hear from and so what she decided do what she wanted to make sure that she heard from the people before she got elected. So she would know exactly what it is that they wanted from her. So she could take that with her. And that once she did get elected, that she would stay in contact with them on a weekly basis, using technology with a podcast. And so she asked if I would be willing to do a podcast with her, where we talk about issues that are specifically related to education. And obviously, the education is there for the children. Right. And so we were having a discussion about children. And we were having a discussion about some of the things that children have to deal with today, that we probably didn't have to deal with when we were growing up, right, how that impacts them, the roles of the school counselors for the children, but also the importance of them for the teachers and the rest of the staff, because they're, there's the things that we dealt with. And then there's the things that they have to deal with, we probably never thought right. Homelessness was something that was almost unheard of when I was in school for our children. But we have a large population of homeless children in this district, right, the fifth largest school district in the nation. And that impacts how a child learns. That's right. As you know, I'm with the Samuel L. Smith Educational Foundation. And one of the reasons why we give food to schools, in the name of Sam, because Sam was all about reading and learning. And it's hard to read and learn if you're hungry. And so we started donating food to the school. So on Fridays, when the children leave school, some of them don't have a full meal again until they come back that Monday. So we wanted to make sure that when they left on Friday, that one they had food, their families had food, but maybe just as important that they knew that there was someone who cared about it. All right.
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Excellent. So this, this new term y'all came up, that's what I want you to explain. And I know, I heard I'm like, What the heck is that? Because we have the the Gen X to this that what was the term Jacobo?
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So it's actually it was a new term for me, okay, and it's Jin, Jin alpha. And when you read up on Jin alpha, it's reminiscent of the 1980s, New York when they talked about super predators. Well, they're, they don't say super predators. Now. They're calling them Gen Alpha. But they're giving them the same reputation that they gave to those so called super predators. Back in New York in the day, that led to some black youth being incarcerated for a crime that they didn't commit. And one recently became a city council member in New York. So we want to talk about that, because we don't want our children mislabeled, especially with something that's derogatory, is that that might impact them for life.
Unknown Speaker 22:57
You know, when I was serving as fire chief, one of the things, there was a book that came out and he talked this price 25 years ago now, give or take now 23 years, but anyway, it talked about the generation difference. It was a Gen X, whoever it was, man, I'm like, we need to be reading this stuff, man, because they are different. The way we deliver to include an EDL the way we deliver our lesson plans. Man, we had a retreat, surgery camp. And couple yet we said we got to invite young people we had invited some younger man need, they ripped us apart. They said who these three old guy standing in front of we want to see some action. Yes, it was me, Jean and Bert. Standing in front of dealing with this event, you got to have some motion. And we said, hey, man, that's the truth. So if you look around website now it's got more emotion to adverse is just a bunch of steel pictures. But tell us a little bit about I
Unknown Speaker 23:59
think it's what he's talking about is I've been uniquely placed in a position to be on the training grounds to be able to understand how to reach from Coach kids from five to 25. And pro athletes as well. And so I understand that they know who loves them and cares about them and their future. And who doesn't. I don't have to see them. I don't have to try to be something I'm not I don't have to. They know that there's a mutual respect and mutual love. And oftentimes, I have I don't know, even to this day, parents that call. Can you please talk to your athlete? Because they have this connection? Yeah, absolutely. And it takes a lot. It's about time and being consistent. Yeah, they love that that consistency.
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Yeah, key. Yeah. Well,
Unknown Speaker 24:58
a future show that I Want to have is, you know you guys remember William? Bill Solomon? Dr. Sullivan? Well, I'm trying to get Dr. Rogers Dr. Cotton attorney Clinton, attorney Scott, I've already made the initial contact, because that brother did a lot for you. And one thing that I just believe that we can't do when somebody transitions is we just kind of all the work they've done we just kick to say, like Sam, me and Sam had some differences. Sam Smith, but we before he passed, we buried a hatch because there's an individual I won't call any names that Sam thought I should promote. And I had a different opinion of that and based upon what I thought, okay, cool, but there was some work that I did with Chief Herobrine trying to get several promotions made and he did make some but then there was some he said I doing it and I you think I'm gonna question him when you when a person has a reason why to promote somebody, they have a good dog on reason and an eight my business so I'm pushing that envelope, you know, and when I retired it was black guys and white guys call him I help someone so doing such as I don't know, don't care. I don't work down anymore. And that's a y'all talked about my black belt when I was serving as fire chief and they start laughing Alright, see you later man. But closing remarks, you know, because I know we're getting close. AFC West. I knew man I mean him starting to get it bad. I looked over and give two mins, give us give us some closing remarks. Just in general, whatever you choose to talk about.
Unknown Speaker 26:26
I happen to be a student protege of Sam Smith. And him and actually one of the most life changing experience I had was him just finding me and dropping a seed to become a firefighter. And every time I get somewhere or do an interview or do something, I always bring up his name. And he would he would every time I come in office or go into the bookstore, he would his appreciation for that. He's like, Oh, you ain't forget.
Unknown Speaker 27:00
And he did appreciate it because we did talk about that. There's some guys that forgot about saying about that he got only forgot about it. But Sam was extremely close to if not in the eyes of many calls in my eyes for sure. Sam was an intellectual. Absolutely, we could talk about everything he could tell you my resume before. For Yes, you got some we got a little bit of time. So give us some closing remarks.
Unknown Speaker 27:24
Everyone what you just heard was he said planted seeds and Dave wanted to know what did I say farmer versus activist ello and that is their reasons. He went oh my Hey, Sam planted many seeds through and there's a bountiful harvest how many students hundreds 1000s that that is a bountiful crop and Sam poured so much into me and so many others. And I wanted to continue planting seeds like Sam did. It won't be like Sam it'll be like Rodney but it will be the best ride Nick can do and that's why I do the things that I do is I want to continue playing NC
Unknown Speaker 28:01
Lord have mercy. This is Veterans Affairs plus on 91.5 Jazz and more as we wrap up I'm gonna start calling myself a farmer. No, but I think that's that's that's perfect because I'm like he said he's a former gentleman. Great show. I appreciate you so much and we will have you back on because I think you guys connection with young folks is very important for us to continue to share with our listening audience. Any 1.5 Jazz and more talk to you next week.
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All the smoke in the cylinder Hey. All the way
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