Just a Small Town Girl
Sue (Daily) Smith was born in a no-stoplight-town in Oklahoma. That little town — Braggs, Oklahoma — taught Sue the importance of community and caring for your neighbors.
Before long, Sue became known in Braggs (and the surrounding area) for her skill as an athlete; Sue was an accomplished basketball player for Braggs High School. To this day, members of the Braggs community light up when reminiscing about watching Sue dominate on the basketball court.
Sue’s basketball skills gave her something that forever changed the trajectory of her life: a chance to see more of the country and, more importantly, to continue her education.
Blazing the Trail…On the Court
At a time when women’s sports still didn’t get the respect they deserved, John F. Kennedy college in Wahoo, Nebraska was quietly pioneering intercollegiate women's athletics with a focus on softball and basketball.
John F. Kennedy College came calling for Sue and she answered. She attended the school on scholarship and continued dominating the basketball court. Sue’s contributions to the program helped it continue to find success even after she had left school. The women's basketball team went on to win several AAU titles. The team also advanced to the final game of the National Women's Invitational Tournament in 1972, 1973 and 1974.
There’s No Place Like Home
After college wrapped up, Sue moved to Omaha, Nebraska before moving back to her beloved small town in Oklahoma. As much as she loved her time in Nebraska, Sue couldn’t resist those Oklahoma skies.
Not too long after moving home, Sue met her future husband, and love of her life, Jimmy Smith. The two would eventually wed in 1979, which brought her daughter, Tracey, into her life.
Sue worked for a time as a loan officer with a local bank before joining Sequoyah Fuels, where she quickly earned herself a position in leadership. After 17 years, Sue left Sequoyah Fuels.
In 1993, Sue and Jimmy founded S&S Companies, which would eventually become Sue’s Recycling & Sanitation, LLC. As the years progressed, Sue and Jimmy grew their business with lots of hard work, a focus on treating people well and doing the right thing, even when it wasn’t always the most profitable option. Sue knew that integrity and honesty mattered as much price.
Under Sue’s guidance, Sue’s Recycling built a foundation for year-over-year growth that remains today. Sue’s business savvy and creative thinking became core to the businesses’ approach. Sue and Jimmy’s son, Taylor, joined the business full time in 2006 after receiving his MBA from Oklahoma State University.
Sadly, Sue was diagnosed with cancer in March of 2020 and lost her battle in September of that year.
Today, 30 years later, Sue’s Recycling operates in 17 counties in Oklahoma, employs over 60 crew members and services thousands of customers daily. Jimmy and Taylor continue operating Sue’s with the same focus on relationships and on doing the right thing that Sue provided.
“We might pick up trash each day but we’re in the relationship business. Relationships with our crew members, with our vendors and partners and — most importantly — with our customers and neighbors.” - Taylor Smith, President of Sue’s Recycling & Sanitation, LLC.
Through it all, Sue always credited the lessons she learned on the court as being key to her success.
Sue Smith Family Foundation
PO Box 209, Gore, OK 74435
hi@suesmithfoundation.org
suesmithfoundation.org
