By Clay Waldron – Originally Published in the 2016 Founder’s Review
Bo Smith’s family originated in Jewell Ridge, Virginia. His parents moved to Belleview two years before his birth in 1957. They lived on County Road 467 for most of his life, and he has always loved the City of Belleview. Growing up in Belleview in the early 1960s, Smith played baseball at the old ballpark where Cherokee Park stands today. He played for the Boston Red Sox in Little League at that park. “Back in those days, there would be large crowds of people at the ballpark when Joe Remington cooked his chicken pileau,” Smith recalled. He also played MCYFL football during his youth.
Smith’s parents built Town Center Plaza and ran Fay-Bobs Fashions Clothing Store. While in high school, Smith helped at the store during holidays and summers. In 1976, his father decided to start building custom homes, and BODA Homes was born. The company was named after Bo and his brother David. Many BODA Homes were built on Ocala Road and Coral Ridge, and they even built the first two homes in The Villages.
Smith began high school at what is now Lake Weir Middle School and later attended the new Lake Weir High School, graduating in 1977. In high school, he played center on the football team and was the smallest in the county at 5’8″ and 175 lbs. He also played first base in baseball and participated in wrestling. “In those days, if you weren’t playing a sport, you were there supporting the team,” Smith said. Miss Graves Ice Cream shop was a popular gathering place between games.
After high school, Smith attended Truett McConnell College in North Georgia, where he studied ministry theology from 1978-1979. As a student, he preached at smaller churches, including 1st Baptist in Belleview.
In 1980, Smith’s life changed forever. His carefree, fun-loving days were behind him as he became a construction worker, a husband, and a father in a short time. After his father passed away, Smith took over BODA Homes with his wife, TC, and ran the business for three years. “I met my wife TC, who lived in Ocala, while I was on a date with another woman,” Smith shared. “We met in December 1979 and married in April 1980. This year, we will be celebrating 36 years of marriage. She has always been beside me and has been a great mother to our children.”
With business slow at BODA Homes, Smith accepted a job with UPS to support his wife and two children. He stayed with UPS for 27 years. “I worked the night shift for two years, then delivered in the old Lady Lake area,” Smith said. He retired due to an injury, which allowed him more time to give back to the community.
Smith coached at the Belleview Ball Park for eight years and spent four years coaching All-Stars. In 1997, he became the Belleview High School Baseball Booster Club President. It was during the early days of the new Belleview High School, which didn’t even have a baseball field. The school board had no funds for a field but did construct a fence. From there, the Booster Club got to work, and with the help of Don Maines, Paul Shorlain, Randy Pittman, the community, and many more, they built the field. They were the first in the county to build a dugout with a locker room. Additionally, they built a separate concession stand for the boys and girls. “We built $200,000 worth of fields and buildings, and the Booster Club only spent $15,000. Everything else was donated by local businesses and subcontractors,” Smith said. His wife, TC, played a significant role in the Booster Club, helping to keep everything running smoothly. “We had a slogan, ‘friends helping friends,’ and I was glad to be a part of it.” The Smith family has a history of building baseball parks, as his father helped build the Belleview Ball Park.
The Smith family continues to follow in the footsteps of their parents. TC is currently the Operations Secretary at an alternative school in Ocala and previously worked as a teacher’s aide at Belleview Elementary for 11 years. Their oldest daughter, Heather Nieb, is now the principal of an alternative school. She and her husband, Allan, have a son, Harper Nieb. Their son, Robert “Boof,” works with UPS and does construction. He has one son, Kassius.
After retiring, Smith decided to run for the Belleview City Commission. In 2010, he was elected and has served on the commission for six years. He plans to run for his seat again. “I love it, and I’m still learning, but I’m very passionate and love the city,” Smith said. “People don’t live here for 50-plus years if they don’t love being here. I like the Mom and Pop stores, how the community looks out for each other, and the family heritage here. If there is ever a need, it is always taken care of. The citizens of Belleview deliver.”
“The biggest change for a lot of the old-timers here, I think, was getting Belleview High School,” Smith stated. “Many of us went to Lake Weir and supported it, but having a high school we could call our own was a big deal.”
The Belleview Sports Complex is another gem in the community. It has grown from a few baseball fields to fields for every sport you can play.
