THE PRESSURES OF LEGACY
Virgil Smith is plain spoken and ready to be honest with voters , the press , and himself .
The name ‘ Virgil Smith ’ had been important to the community for 100 years . His father , a busy public figure after whom he was named , split from his mother when Virgil was young . He spent much of his childhood living with either parent or his grandmother , He worked very hard to live up to everyone ’ s expectations of him . Whatever task he was given , he tried to do his best . There were few confidants ; few people around to answer his deeper questions . As the child of a public figure , he knew it was important to keep his daily worries and family problems to himself .
When older cousins introduced young Virgil to alcohol at the age of 12 , it would begin a lifetime of challenges and addiction that would shape so much of his life . Books and alcohol were how the middle-schooler , then teenager learned to privately deal with life ’ s disappointments . He continued to do his best in school . Drinking was something to be glossed over and hushed up . But quietly , the alcohol took over his life .
Despite the challenges with alcoholism , he served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2003 to 2008 . He served the three terms allowed under current term limits law . In 2010 he was elected to the Michigan Senate to fill the seat formerly held by Samuel " Buzz " Thomas , who left the Senate due to term limits .
In 2014 he was involved in a serious accident while riding in the back of an UBER taxi . He often took steps like taking taxis to stay out of harm ’ s way . The car was T- boned , flipped over and Virgil sustained a traumatic brain injury in the accident . But he says , his judgement had become so clouded by his use of alcohol , he didn ’ t realize he had been injured .
In 2015 , it all caught up with him . He checked himself in for treatment . “ You have to take it one day at a time ,” he said . “ You ’ re never really cured . Addiction is real ,” he said .
By being mindful and surrounding himself with stability and supportive people and groups , he says he is ready to get on with a life of service .
CONT ’ D