2019 Strategies Newsletter

A Tribute to Our Founder: Jean Smith

Jean Smith, founder of Walpole & Company, LLP, retired in July, 2019. When a remarkable person impacts our lives, most of us feel a deep sense of admiration, gratitude, and appreciation. Jean Smith is one of those remarkable people – an inspiring role-model who has influenced and impacted many lives on both a professional and personal level. We're honored to pay tribute to Jean as we reflect on her esteemed career.

For many others who have accomplished what Jean has, it means they worked nights and weekends, gave up quality time with their families and friends, and rarely took vacations or time off – but Jean did it differently. For Jean, founding a business wasn't just about making money and 'getting' a wage. It was about developing a graceful balance between nurturing her marriage and family, involvement in her church and community, and making her business the best it could be by giving her clients caring, compassionate financial advice through judicious guidance.

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Point of View

By John Bostwick, CPA

Sometimes, the best things happen by accident. Bike accident, that is. Now, to clarify, I don’t wish a bike accident on anyone, but sometimes the unexpected silver linings outweigh the scrapes. Twenty-nine years ago, I happened to come across a bicyclist who had just been knocked off her bike and evidently required help. My riding partner, Ken, just happened to know her, so we stopped to check in. As Ken had a prior engagement, I assumed the wonderful responsibility of making sure she was alright by riding by her side, back to her home. I never got her number. Three months later, Ken invited the two of us to a dinner party, and the rest is history. We have been happily married for
twenty-seven years, and have a son and daughter.

Sometimes, unexpected situations or problems are an opportunity for us to do something different. For example, my professional career has taken me from customer service manager in Nissan dealerships to tax planning and preparation in public accounting. As is to be expected, people come through the door with numerous difficulties in both environments. Nobody wants a large car repair bill or an unexpected tax outcome, and so, we encounter people in some situations that they don’t expect. But, it is the unexpected that helps us all grow.

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I Am A Knight Now

By Anita Peca, CPA

Our client, Rutledge A. Mills (Putty) was recently awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal for his service at the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. In 1945, Rutledge was deployed to the 331st Field Artillery Battalion in Le Havre, France in General Patton’s 3rd Army as an aircraft mechanic. He was 19 years old at the time. His other significant decorations include the American, European-African-Middle Eastern, and Asiatic Campaign Medals; the World War II Victory Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. After the war, Rutledge worked in a Santa Barbara Jeep Dealership from 1946 to 1963, and in 1963, NASA hired him to design and build components for the Lunar Land Rover going to the moon. After leaving NASA in 1973, Rutledge was employed as a Department of Interior Flight Safety Officer for the Western U.S. Region. He held this position until his retirement in 1986.

The history of the National Order of the Legion of Honor began with the French Revolution when all the orders of the kingdom were abolished. It was the wish of Napolean, the First Consul, to create a reward to commend civilians and soldiers regardless of their stature in life. In 1802, a Legion of Honor was established as the first modern order of merit. The Legion was open to individuals of all ranks and professions. The order is France’s highest award and is conferred upon men and women, either French citizens or foreign nationals, for outstanding achievements in military or civilian life. Twenty nine Legion of Honor medals have been issued to date, and Rutledge Mills was presented with the twenty eighth in July 2018.

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