Submitted by Emily O'Neal

Rome News Tribune August 2, 1987

Textiles, Community Leader G. Howard Smith, 78, Dies

Retired industrialist and community leader G. Howard Smith, 78, of 809 Highland Ave., died Saturday morning at a Rome hospital.
A retired vice-president and general manager of West Point Pepperell Manufacturing Company, with which he had been associated from 1929 until 1970, Mr. Smith was active for more than half a century in banking, education and business here.
A native of Fayette, Ala., Mr. Smith was born Feb. 24, 1909, the son of the late Garland Spencer Smith and Adine Young Smith.
He was graduated from Alabama Polytechinc Institute, now Auburn University in 1919 with a bachelor of science degree. During college, his decidely blond hair earned him the nickname of "Jack Frost" and he was called Jack from then on.
Before starting his career in the textile industry, Mr. Smith played professional baseball with Lindale in the Georgia-Alabama League, with Vicksburg, Miss., in the Cotton States League, and with Chattanooga, Tenn., in the Southern League.
Through the years, Mr. Smith served in numerous leadership positions with the Georgia Textile Manufacturers Association (GTMA) the Textile Operating Executives of Georgia and the Textile Education Foundation, Inc. He was president of the GTMA in 1962-63.
Active in the banking community here, he was a former director of the National City Bank, (now First Union National Bank of Floyd County) and Citizens and Federal Savings and Loan Association.
He also held leadership positions in nearly all other facts (facets?) of community life, as a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Pepperell school system, a charter member of the Civil Service Board and a unit chairman for the Rome-Floyd United Fund.
He also served as president of Lindale Charities, was a director of the Junior Achievement program, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and was a past president of the Rome Exchange Club.
For three years, he served as president of the Northwest Georgia Council of Boy Scouts of America, and held the Silver Beaver, one of Scouting's highest awards.
He was a former treasurer of Lindale Lodge 455, F& A.M., and was a past worshipful master of the Floyd County Masonic Association.
He also served as a former director of the Coosa Country Club, and played golf as his hobby.
Mr. Smith was a communicant of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Lucy Willingham Smith; three daughters, Mrs. Harrell Everett, Jr. Goldsboro, N.C., Mrs. Joseph C. Frierson, Athens, and Mrs. David Hunter, Rome; five grandchildren.
Graveside services will be at 6 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Memorial Gardens with the Rev. G. Donald Black and the Rev. Janice Bracken officiating.

(Note: Died Aug. 1)

This page was last updated Wednesday, 16-Jun-2010 17:49:30 MDT