Floyd R. Smith, 91, passed away November 8, 2004 at his home in Beaumont.
A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 N. 23rd Street on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Broussard’s in Beaumont. Officiating will be Dr. Harland Merriam.
Mr. Smith, a native of San Francisco, California, joined Gulf States Utilities Company in 1935 after graduation from New Mexico State University. He began in Navasota, Texas, later transferring to Beaumont, Port Arthur and Baton Rouge in various positions. He was named Executive Vice President in September 1969, and seven months later, was elected President and Principal Executive Officer. He was named Chairman of the Board in 1973, a position he held until his retirement in 1978.
The Sabine Chapter of the Texas Engineering Society named Mr. Smith Engineer of the Year and he has been designated a distinguished alumnus of the college of engineering at New Mexico State University. He served United Appeals as campaign chairman for north Jefferson County in 1974 and as president in 1975. He served as area campaign chairman of the U.S. Savings Bond drive here in 1976 and 1977. He served as a director of the Beaumont Chapter of the Red Cross for six years. He has been a director of the Chambers of Commerce in Baton Rouge, Port Arthur and Beaumont.
Mr. Smith completed the public utility executive program at Georgia Tech in 1957 and the Harvard University advanced management program in 1962.
He has served as president of the Southwest Atomic Energy Associates. He has also been president of the Texas Atomic Energy Research Foundation and the Southeastern Electric Exchange. He has served as a director of the Edison Electric Institute, the Electric Energy Association, Southeastern Electric Exchange, and the National Association of Electric Companies. He is also listed in Who’s Who in America.
Mr. Smith was a member of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, the Beaumont Rotary Club, the Beaumont Country Club, a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and an avid golfer.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, LaFrae; daughter, Kay White and husband Ed; daughter, Virginia Smith; grandchildren, Darrell Crain and wife Debra, Cheryl Benoit and husband Ricky, Debbie Wright and husband Randy; five great grandchildren; brother, Gerhard Smith; sisters, Lillian Von Bima and Barbara Barr; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 1350 N. 23rd Street, Beaumont, Texas 77706 or to the charity of choice.
