By Robert King — Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — Terry Whittle's journey to stop smoking started when his three children gave him gum last Christmas.

Whittle, the Winchester Circuit Court clerk, quit smoking earlier this year after 31 years. He used Nicorette gum given to him by his children to kick the unhealthy habit.

"Looking at it now, I wish I had done it years ago," Whittle said. "After years you started to think it's not good for you. It made no sense to do it."

The 51-year-old started smoking in 1976 when it was more socially acceptable. Whittle was working in a factory the summer between his freshman and sophomore year at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland.

"Everybody there smoked," Whittle said of his factory co-workers. "When you had a break you would go out in front of the building, and all these people would be sitting there smoking. It was a nonstop thing for them."

Whittle started smoking on a regular basis during his junior and senior years in college. When he started smoking, the culture was radically different than now.

"I guess there were very few places where smoking was not allowed," he said. "You didn't have nonsmoking areas in restaurants."

Whittle added that college classrooms permitted smoking, and so did many public buildings.

"It was not something where you had smoke-free buildings," he said.

Whittle remarked there were smoking areas in Clarke County High School where he taught for five years after graduating from college.

He came to the Circuit Court as a deputy clerk in 1985. Whittle was elected to an eight-year term as clerk in 2003.

Whittle hadn't thought about quitting smoking until he got the unique present from his children last Christmas.

"My three kids had gotten [Nicorette] for me, and I had no intention of quitting so I told them that I really need to see a doctor before using it to make sure it was OK," Whittle said.

He decided to start using the gum a short while later.

"I don't know what prompted it, what said on this date I was going to quit," Whittle said.

Another turning point was when Whittle realized his frivolous smoking habits.

"I was getting in the habit of smoking two or three puffs and throwing [the cigarette] away," he said. "What happened basically I saw this other guy had given up smoking and he was chewing gum and said 'you should try.' I said I got some, and I said I might do it."

One morning outside of his Winchester home, Whittle, out of habit, lit up a cigarette and threw it away after a few puffs, and then realized "this is ridiculous."

Whittle started chewing his first piece of Nicorette that day.

"About noon I realized I hadn't had a cigarette nor had I wanted one," he said.

Yet Whittle didn't instantaneously give up smoking.

"When I first started chewing the gum, I would have a piece and then maybe smoke two or three [cigarettes] a day," he said. "Then a couple of days after that I realized that wasn't good either, chewing gum and smoking two or three cigarettes."

Right before the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in April, Whittle stopped smoking completely. He has remained smoke-free since.

Roughly two weeks ago, Whittle gave up chewing the gum, as well.

"I found myself thinking a couple of weeks before I quit the gum that I am just chewing this, and maybe do I really need it or am I just doing this out of habit," he said. "One day I just didn't chew it, and I didn't think about it."

During his time quitting smoking, Whittle never battled intense cravings to have a cigarette.

"I expected there would be a period of time where I would really have these intense cravings and it just never happened," he said.

Whittle said smokers that want to quit need to find the best system that works for them.

"I have heard people use the patch and that works. People chew the gum and that works," he said. "Whatever it takes try to find something that you can work for you, and talk to your doctor and you know the risks involved."

It also helps to surround yourself with people who will be supportive, he added.

"I didn't tell people the first week or so [I quit smoking] because I wasn't sure. I didn't want to say I was quitting smoking and then two weeks later back doing it again," Whittle said.

His friends and family were very supportive of his efforts, though.

"It was for them pretty strange to hear [I was quitting], but at the same time they recognized [it] as a great decision and definitely overdue," he said. "I haven't had anybody say 'look Whittle what are you doing. You are crazy. Get back into it.'"

Whittle said his three children are especially happy their dad kicked smoking.

The Nicorette "is the best Christmas present they have given me in the long run," he said.

* Contact Robert King at rking@nvdaily.com