SC Godfrey Smith Gives Mike Espat His Flowers

Mike Espat’s state funeral is scheduled for the tenth of May. On Wednesday, we spoke with one of Espat’s long-time colleagues, going all the way back to his days as a teacher at the Toledo Community College. Senior Counsel Godfrey Smith taught alongside Espat at TCC. When we caught up with Smith he reminisced on those good old times and the man that he knew Espat to be.

 

Godfrey Smith, Former Colleague of Mike Espat

“When I met Mike Espat in September of 1987, freshly graduated from St Johns six form, when I met him he was the principal of Toledo Community College where I taught for a year in the English Department, teaching English language and English Literature. I actually lived in Mike’s house for a couple of months until I was able to find a place of my own and I was involved with him in various things. I have a vivid memory of entering a pig stye with him. He was hands on person, very practical, involved in rice production, the pig program at the campus.  I remember stepping into the stye and wading in the mud and mock, assisting him, just generally dealing with the livestock. Always outspoken, always a party man and never feared to speak truth to the leadership and always ready to lead a back bench revolt but only going so far.”