Affton alum, Army veteran to be honored at Affton basketball game this Friday 

Timothy Smith – Affton alum, Army veteran and business man – will be recognized at the Affton versus Bayless High School varsity boys basketball game this Friday at Affton High School, 8309 MacKenzie Road. 

The game is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Smith and his family are to be honored between 6:30 and 7 p.m. Community members from around the St. Louis area are encouraged to attend the game. 

After graduating from Affton High School in 1997, Smith joined the U.S. Army. He did a tour in Iraq in 2004, later leaving the military in 2007 to come back to St. Louis to further his education and find a job. 

Though Smith left the military in 2007, his body is still feeling the effects of his time in the service. In 2016, Smith was diagnosed with lung cancer, caused by his close proximity to burn pits while overseas. 

During the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the U.S. military used burn pits to dispose of waste – from trash and wood to medical and human waste – despite concerns over potential health impacts from toxic smoke and pollution. 

Since his first diagnosis, Smith has beaten cancer three times. This year, however, it came back, spreading to other parts of his body. 

Making the most of the time he has left, Smith recently completed and published his first book,  “A Patriot’s American Dream.” Copies of the book will be available for purchase at the game, as well as online. 

For those wanting to help Smith’s family with medical bills, a Gofundme page has been set up.

Smith started Patriot Commercial Cleaning, a cleaning business that specifically hires veterans and family members of veterans, in 2011. He also owns a roofing company called Patriot Industries.