NAMES IN THE NEWS : Now What’s That Name Again?

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. —  The annual meeting of the national Jim Smith Society came to order today and it was time to share stories about what it means to be a Jim Smith. Often, it means inconvenience.

About 50 Jim Smiths had registered for the gathering, which will include the Jim Smith golf tournament, the all-Jim Smith softball game, “Meet Jim Smith” mixers and JIMGO, a version of bingo.

“I’ve met about 300 Jim Smiths at these conventions over the years and I can honestly say I never met a Jim Smith I didn’t like,” said Jim Smith of Camp Hill, Pa.

The society was founded in 1969 and has 1,533 members worldwide. The Jim Smiths at the annual meeting can commiserate about the headaches they share because of their name.

“When I bought my house, I had to sign affidavits saying that I was not the Jim Smith that was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison,” said founder Jim Smith of Dayton, Ohio.