Businessman, community activist.
Born at Winnipeg on 9 July 1917, son of Wilson and Minnie Smith, he graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1939 then served as an artilleryman in the Second World War, rising to the rank of Captain. He was employed throughout his life with the family business, The Smith Agency Limited. Starting in 1962, he served with the Canadian Institute for the Blind, becoming Manitoba Chairman from 1974 to 1979, and elected national President in 1979, at the time only the third non-Torontonian do so so. He was a member of the Winnipeg Rotary Club, where he served as President and attained a remarkable 50 years of perfect attendance. He was honored with the Canadian Volunteer Award bestowed by the Governor General. An avid golfer, he was a longtime member of the St. Charles Country Club. He died at Vero Beach, Florida on 3 March 2008.
Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 8 March 2008.
“Manitobans’ Legacy a Better Province,” Winnipeg Free Press, 4 January 2009, page B2.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 31 August 2020
Memorable Manitobans
This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations.
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