In it’s December 2020 meeting, Director Scotty Poling proposed a measure to award an ATCA member each year who has served the club membership and the antique telephone collecting hobby as a whole. The member has also been instrumental in promoting the collecting and preservation of historic telephones. The name of the award was chosen in honor of Clarence A. “Smitty” Smith #20. Clarence Smith was one of the founding members of the Antique Telephone Collectors Association. He was from LaCrosse, Kansas and was the secretary of the LaCrosse, Kansas Chamber of Commerce in 1971. He and another man, Roy Ehley got together and hosted and promoted the first sidewalk show which was sponsored by the chamber. Clarence Smith was also the first secretary of the club and published the newsletter for several years. He corresponded with many prospective members in the early days and helped get the club off the ground. We owe him a debt of gratitude for what helped develop. Due to his hard work and early contributions to the club, the board named the award in his honor.

The ATCA board will chose one person each year whose work or actions have contributed to the preservation and collecting of the telephone. The person chosen to receive the “Smitty Award” will presented a plaque honoring him or her along with an annual membership at no charge for the membership year following the receipt of the award. The award will be given each year at the annual National Show if possible. The board elected to bestow this honor on the following for the year 2020:

The 2020 Clarence A. “Smitty” Smith award goes to a longtime member who has helped many collectors restore antique telephones with this precision craftsmanship and attention to detail. Without his expertise, many sets would be without needed parts and pieces. His attention to detail and accuracy is beyond compare. The first recognition is awarded to John LaRose of Barre, Vermont.

---

---