Tom C. Smith was born in eastern Kentucky and raised in a coal camp called Stone Camp in Stone, Kentucky. A fourth-generation coal miner, he attended technical school in Nashville in the early 1990s and returned to the coal industry as a general laborer and maintenance trainee, where he became certified in electricity, hydraulics, and mechanical systems. He was soon promoted to maintenance foreman, then within 8 to 10 years became Maintenance Director and Mine Manager of a 300-man operation. Over the next 6 to 8 years, he advanced to General Manager, overseeing a 600-employee operation recognized as one of the largest coal producers in West Virginia. He served as President of the Kentucky Mine Institute and was recognized multiple times by the federal government for outstanding safety, including two nationally recognized awards. After being recruited to a position in eastern Tennessee, he worked four to five years before deciding it was time to leave. He gave a 20-day notice and started his own construction company, describing it as the longest 20 days of his life.
In 2019, Tom began his entrepreneurial journey, building a construction company that now employs about 15 full-time workers and multiple subcontractors, generating $3 to $5 million annually in hospitality-sector construction. His projects include work for theme parks like Dollywood and Wilderness at the Smokies, as well as hotels and restaurants in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. In 2022, he built a 58-slip RV campground that was recently recognized as the number one campground in the United States.
Pursuing a childhood passion for wrestling, he connected with 16-time world champion Ric Flair and now is involved with Flair vodka, bourbon, gin, and a forthcoming Flair tequila. Flair vodka won gold at the 2025 New York World Spirits Challenge and was featured in Forbes.com. He also created a nine-year bourbon called Truce, commemorating his family legacy as a direct descendant of the Hatfield family; the bourbon represents the truce between the Hatfields and McCoys, originally in 1976 and re-commemorated in 2003. Additionally, he runs a merchandise line called Whiskey and Watches. Tom is driven by a love of creating, helping others, and seeing people do well.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
- How Tom C. Smith transitioned from a fourth-generation coal miner to a multi-million dollar construction company owner.
- That starting as a maintenance trainee teaches you the hands-on skills to manage 600 employees later.
- Why giving a 20-day notice and betting on yourself can be the catalyst for entrepreneurial success.
- How to turn a childhood passion for wrestling into a partnership with 16-time world champion Ric Flair.
- That building a 58-slip campground can earn national recognition as the number one campground in America.
- Why no one takes better care of your dream than you do, and how staying involved daily protects it.
- How diversifying into spirits—vodka, bourbon, gin, and now tequila—creates multiple brands from one legacy.
- That winning a gold medal at the New York World Spirits Challenge can attract attention from Forbes.
- How to honor a famous family feud by creating a bourbon that symbolizes peace, like Truce.
- Why starting small but dreaming big is the foundation for everything from construction to merchandise.
about the show
Legacy Makers is an entrepreneur TV series and business documentary experience built around powerful founder stories, leadership lessons, personal branding, and the strategies behind lasting success.
Each episode takes viewers inside the minds of influential entrepreneurs, industry leaders, pro athletes, executives, and business titans to uncover the moments, decisions, challenges, and breakthroughs that shaped their journey.
Through cinematic storytelling and in-depth conversation, Legacy Makers highlights the real experiences behind success, from building a brand and overcoming obstacles to developing expertise, creating impact, and leaving a legacy that reaches beyond business.
In this episode, Tom C. Smith will share his journey, the lessons that shaped his success, how he built his brand, and the behind-the-scenes decisions that helped him become a leader in his field.
