Aug. 31, 2007 — If Charles Lindbergh had a larger reception when he landed on St. Thomas more than seven decades ago in 1928, it could not have been any happier than when Capt. Granville T. Smith Jr. landed Friday afternoon, also making an historic flight.
On Tuesday, the young aviator departed from Aruba for his four-day maiden voyage throughout the Caribbean, visiting 10 islands and covering 1,680 miles. Gov. John deJongh Jr. had bade him farewell Monday at the Cyril E. King Airport as Smith left the territory. Smith, affectionately known as Theo, is possibly the youngest certified pilot ever to navigate the Caribbean islands.
The diminutive 17-year-old captain met an airport crowded with family, friends, Baptist church members and a passel of government officials
But Smith had eyes only for his mother, brothers and sisters as he made his way through the throng of well-wishers. Danny, his 10-year-old brother, made sure he got the first hug.
Smith's mother, Eusineca Smith, smiled serenely, looking patient as everyone awaited Smith's arrival.
"I don't feel nervous," she said. "I'm happy. He is so calm about what he is doing that it doesn't make me nervous."
With a laugh, she added, "Maybe I'm just numb."
The rest of the family was anything but numb as they waited impatiently for the star's arrival. His sisters, Granneca, 15, and Shemeca, 13, stood primly in new dresses and huge smiles, appearing too excited to speak.
Danny could hardly stand it any longer, peering out to the doors and trying a little to contain his enthusiasm. "I'm so proud," he said. "Very, very proud." The family has been awaiting his moment since Smith took his first flying lessons seven years ago.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty told Smith how proud the community is of his achievement.
"He has so much in store for him," she said with a wide smile. "To be a pilot, so young — we are so proud to have Capt. Smith represent the U.S. Virgin Islands during his travels in the Caribbean. We look forward to welcoming you again and again. You are such a model for our young people."
Nicholson-Doty presented Smith with a trophy that was almost as big as Smith himself.
Delegate Donna M. Christensen also welcomed Smith.
"Many of us are afraid to dream,” she said. “At this young age, to have pursued your dream, you are such an inspiration." Christensen presented Smith with a certificate of recognition from the U.S. Congress.
As the ceremony rolled on and the trophies and honors kept rolling in, the pilot would look over to his family, seemingly for reassurance that this was really happening.
After the national award, Senate President Usie Richards presented a plaque from the 27th Legislature honoring Smith's achievement. St. Thomas-Water Island Administrator Barbara Petersen stood in for the governor.
"You were hardly out of Pampers when you decided to be a pilot,” she said. “This is your dream, and this is just the beginning."
Even the pastor of his church, the Rev. Bentley Thomas of the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, recalled Smith's early days: "As a baby, Theo was always fascinated by planes, playing with the models, taking them apart."
Lawrence Acqi, Scotia Bank vice president and longtime supporter of Smith, presented him with yet another award.
Smith took the podium all smiles, and simply thanked his family and all his friends for their support and faith in him. He left the podium, paused and returned.
"I forgot to thank my instructors, Cleo Hodge, Elhuid Gomez and Shawn James,” he said. Gomez accompanied Smith on the flight, as did his father, Granville Smith Sr. Hodge couldn't attend the ceremony; he was delayed in Miami because of weather.
After the ceremony, the audience broke spontaneously into song, with a hearty rendition of "Thank You Lord."
The whole trip cost about $15,000, according to Smith’s mother.
"We spent about two months raising money, and we have all but $3,400 paid,” she said. Attorney Jim Derr, who is also a pilot, sponsored the last two legs of the trip, covering hotel and fuel expenses.
Smith's older brother, DeVaughn, 31, shared early recollections.
"When Theo was born, I was sort of his inspiration," he said. "I was always interested in flying, too, but it was more the mechanics, the technical part. Theo just wanted to fly. It was an obsession with him. We would come out to the airport and watch the planes when he was little. I gave him a poster of the Concorde, and he loved it, put it up in his room."
DeVaughn Smith said he and the rest of the family have been in touch with the young pilot on his trip.
"We talk to him almost every day,” he said. “We talked from Anguilla this morning. He flew from there to Tortola, and then here."
Theo Smith said his next goal is getting his instrument rating, which he hopes to do over Christmas holidays.
"Then I want to get my commercial license, but you have to be 18 for that,” he said. “After I graduate from high school, I'll be going to Florida Memorial University to study aviation."
Smith, accompanied by his father and Gomez, made the journey in a six-seat twin engine Piper Aztec direct from St. Thomas to Aruba on Monday, the longest flying time of the trip, about three hours.
Tuesday they left Aruba, continuing on to Trinidad, Grenada, Carriacou, Dominica, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Antigua, Anguilla and Tortola before touching down on St. Thomas Friday, with island tourism representatives greeting the trio at each stop.
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