Hello, my name is Steve Kersey and I worked for Ms. Smiley as a night supervisor at the OSU Commerce Library from 1977 until she the day she retired. In fact, I was working our circulation desk, which was right next to the front entrance, the day she left the library for the last time. As it turns out, this very week (April 1-7) marks the 40th anniversary of the date in which Virginia (everyone called her Ms. Smiley - always) hired me for that job. It was also my first full-time job ever. Let there be no doubt, Ms. Smiley was one tough boss. No one wanted to be caught NOT working when she made her rounds checking up on us. At the time all of her staff including me were young adults (not so much now, I might add). I counted myself pretty lucky actually. Because I worked Sundays and nights, Virginia was, of course, not around. Not only that, but during the afternoons I was way across the big lobby in another room entirely. She seldom made the trek until the library was renovated in 1978. Then things became a little different. 

You should have seen Ms. Smiley's invention during the remodeling process. We needed a temporary system for hauling the many green tubs of books that Frank brought us every day. By herself she made a hoist that then enabled the delivery man to hoist the tubs up two huge stories in Page Hall. Wow! It was truly amazing what she had invented. What would we have done without it, I have no idea.

Yes, Ms. Smiley was an incredible boss - no matter how you look at it. However, if this was all I was going to write, I probably would not have written this. To her staff (remember again we were quite young at the time), she was just plain too strict. So during Christmas break at OSU Virginia took a week off every year I worked for her. On one of those days that she took off work, the entire staff partied in the break room - all day long. Because the library was still open, we placed a bell on the front desk so our patrons could get our attention. Of course, it was a very quiet party. After all, we did work in a library for heaven's sake. I guess our secret is out after all these years!

Ok, sorry that all my stories get so long but if you've made it this far with me, then you are now in for the heart of the matter. The following is the true reason for me sharing a Ms. Smiley memory with you. Again, to drive it home, Virginia was not very popular with her staff. There was no "free as a bird" with Ms. Smiley on duty. Anyway, one day I was at my favorite Oval bench on break. Believe it or not, it was around 1995 when I was the daytime supervisor there that a Columbus Dispatch photographer took a picture of me reading a book (of all things) on the same bench. It appeared on the Dispatch Metro page. I know, why do I always digress? On that particular day in the 1980's I got stung by a bee, and I marched back inside real quick for sure. Not being one to keep my pain much of a secret, Ms. Smiley saw me in distress and went immediately to her first aid kit. Whatever SHE herself applied to my back worked wonders! And thank you, Virginia, very much indeed! There is absolutely no doubt in my mind whatsoever that from that day forward I developed an entirely new attitude (a much more positive one, that is) about Ms. Smiley.

Well, my story does not end there concerning Virginia. By now you probably could have guessed that anyway. There's one more I would like to mention. I parked my 1968 truck next door in the garage. One day before Ms. Smiley left for the day, I happened to go out to the parking garage only to find out that I had a dead battery. On this occasion Virginia once again came to my rescue. This time she brought her Volkswagon over to my truck and jumped my battery with her jumper cables. Oh, Ms. Smiley, you are indeed a savior of sorts - certainly mine at the very least! Boy, that positive attitude that I previously mentioned for Virginia continued to grow by leaps and bounds.

Rest in peace, Virginia.

Schoedinger Midtown

Virginia Smiley

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Virginia Evelyn Smiley

November 11, 1924 – January 21, 2017

Schoedinger Midtown

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