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==Plugging civic improvement==

==Plugging civic improvement==

In civic affairs, Smith acted with others to establish England Airpark when the United States Congress closed England Air Force Base. Alexandria businessman Rodney V. Noles, a pallbearer  at Smith's funeral, recalled in an interview with ''The Town Talk'' that his friend "cared about the community... and influenced things from an unselfish standpoint." Businessman Harry B. Silver (born January 19, 1922), an elderly Alexandria City Council member and an honorary pallbearer, said that Smith helped Alexandria to progress and then "graduated to state level, where he was an inestimable value as consultant in governmental affairs. He was a philanthropist in the educational field as well as the cultural field." Each Christmas season, he led ''The Town Talk'' annual Doll and Toy Fund to raise money for gifts for needy children.[20] Smith was a past president of the Alexandria-Pineville [[Chamber of Commerce.]][21]

In civic affairs, Smith acted with others to establish England Airpark when the United States Congress closed England Air Force Base. Alexandria businessman Rodney V. Noles, a pallbearer  at Smith's funeral, recalled in an interview with ''The Town Talk'' that his friend "cared about the community... and influenced things from an unselfish standpoint." Businessman Harry B. Silver (born January 19, 1922), an elderly Alexandria City Council member and an honorary pallbearer, said that Smith helped Alexandria to progress and then "graduated to state level, where he was an inestimable value as consultant in governmental affairs. He was a philanthropist in the educational field as well as the cultural field." Each Christmas season, he led ''The Town Talk'' annual Doll and Toy Fund to raise money for gifts for needy children.[20] Smith was a past president of the Alexandria-Pineville [[Chamber of Commerce]]. [21]

 

Smith advocated a revitalized downtown Alexandria and fought to keep Rapides Regional Medical Center from moving when the hospital needed to expand. He moved The Town Talk into a nearby renovated downtown building on Third Street once occupied by J. C. Penney. He successfully argued for I-Interstate 49 to pass through the downtown. Ed Humphrey, the Town Talk president and publisher at the time of Smith's death, said that he was "always impressed with [Smith]'s business knowledge and experience. He was a leader, not just in the newspaper industry, but in helping build the local business economy."[22]

Smith advocated a revitalized downtown Alexandria and fought to keep Rapides Regional Medical Center from moving when the hospital needed to expand. He moved The Town Talk into a nearby renovated downtown building on Third Street once occupied by J. C. Penney. He successfully argued for I-Interstate 49 to pass through the downtown. Ed Humphrey, the Town Talk president and publisher at the time of Smith's death, said that he was "always impressed with [Smith]'s business knowledge and experience. He was a leader, not just in the newspaper industry, but in helping build the local business economy."[22]

Active in banking too, Smith was a board member of the former Guaranty Bank and Trust Company in Alexandria and its reorganized company, Hibernia Bank in New Orleans.[23]

Active in banking too, Smith was a board member of the former Guaranty Bank and Trust Company in Alexandria and its reorganized company, Hibernia Bank in New Orleans.[23]