Lt. Col. Ret. Harold F. Smith
March 19, 1931 — November 17, 2017
Lt. Col. Harold Francis Smith (Ret), of Parker, Texas passed away November 17, 2017, at the age of 86. He was born March 19, 1931, to John Smith and Marjorie (Langford) Smith in Sioux City, Iowa and raised by his grandmother Langford along with Emmet and Irene Hickey. Red served his country with honor for thirty years in the United States Air Force. He married Joan Olsen on December 15, 1956, in Omaha, Nebraska. They moved to Dallas, Texas with their four children after he retired from the Air Force.
Harold completed a Bachelor of Science, Aeronautics and Aerospace (AA), at the University of Colorado, a Master of Science, Engineering Administration, at Southern Methodist University, and achieved Professional Engineer (P.E.) status in 1972.
Red is one of the original founders of the National Association for Remotely Piloted Vehicles (NARPV) which became the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International (AUVSI), and he was the second National President of NARPV. He was a program management principal in the Vietnam era for remotely piloted vehicle programs, including Long Arm Decoy, Lightning Bug photo reconnaissance in Vietnam, Electronic Warfare in Combat Angel, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) in Combat Dawn and Strike in Have Lemon Task 05. He served in RPV Systems at SAC Headquarters, the Big Safari Office, and the Drone/RPV System Project Office (SPO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and in Vietnam and Thailand.
With a total of 15 months in the Vietnam war, Colonel Smith holds many military awards, among them the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal twice, the USAF Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Campaign medal with five battle stars, and a USAF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V." He is a recipient of the Operations Award at the 1989 National NARPV Convention in Washington, D.C. for his contribution to the unmanned community, and was similarly recognized by the Air Force Association. He retired from the USAF as Chief of the Operations Support Branch of the Drone/RPV System Project Office, and is an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a Life Member of the Air Force Association (AFA).
He is survived by his spouse, Joan Smith of Parker, Texas; children, Douglas Smith and his wife, Diana, from Sachse, Daniel Smith from Wylie, Gregory Smith and his wife, Stephanie, from McKinney, and Paula (Smith) Field and her husband, Dan, from Lucas; grandchildren, Lindsay (Smith) Clayton and her husband, Robert, from Garland, Marshall Smith and his wife, Bristy, from Garland, Benjamin, Austin, and Collin Smith from Wylie, Stephanie Smith from Houston, Hailey Smith from McKinney, Hayden Smith from Plano, Hannah and Reece Field from Lucas; great-grandchildren, Bobby and Farrah Clayton from Garland, and Bailey Smith also from Garland; and many close friends to the family.
Harold was preceded in death by his second son, David Smith.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday evening, November 26, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. A funeral service will be held Monday, November 27, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.at the funeral home. A graveside service with full military honors will be held Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 11:00 at Harlan Cemetery in Shelby County, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to the Military Heritage Collection of North Texas and the Texas Historical Society.
Military Heritage Collection of North Texas
20798 County Road 590
Nevada, Texas 75173
469-434-0396
militaryheritagecollection@gmail.com
Sachse Historical Society
3033 6th Street
Sachse, Texas 75048
www.sachsehistoricalsociety.org
Harold completed a Bachelor of Science, Aeronautics and Aerospace (AA), at the University of Colorado, a Master of Science, Engineering Administration, at Southern Methodist University, and achieved Professional Engineer (P.E.) status in 1972.
Red is one of the original founders of the National Association for Remotely Piloted Vehicles (NARPV) which became the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International (AUVSI), and he was the second National President of NARPV. He was a program management principal in the Vietnam era for remotely piloted vehicle programs, including Long Arm Decoy, Lightning Bug photo reconnaissance in Vietnam, Electronic Warfare in Combat Angel, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) in Combat Dawn and Strike in Have Lemon Task 05. He served in RPV Systems at SAC Headquarters, the Big Safari Office, and the Drone/RPV System Project Office (SPO) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, and in Vietnam and Thailand.
With a total of 15 months in the Vietnam war, Colonel Smith holds many military awards, among them the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal twice, the USAF Commendation Medal, the Vietnam Campaign medal with five battle stars, and a USAF Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V." He is a recipient of the Operations Award at the 1989 National NARPV Convention in Washington, D.C. for his contribution to the unmanned community, and was similarly recognized by the Air Force Association. He retired from the USAF as Chief of the Operations Support Branch of the Drone/RPV System Project Office, and is an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and a Life Member of the Air Force Association (AFA).
He is survived by his spouse, Joan Smith of Parker, Texas; children, Douglas Smith and his wife, Diana, from Sachse, Daniel Smith from Wylie, Gregory Smith and his wife, Stephanie, from McKinney, and Paula (Smith) Field and her husband, Dan, from Lucas; grandchildren, Lindsay (Smith) Clayton and her husband, Robert, from Garland, Marshall Smith and his wife, Bristy, from Garland, Benjamin, Austin, and Collin Smith from Wylie, Stephanie Smith from Houston, Hailey Smith from McKinney, Hayden Smith from Plano, Hannah and Reece Field from Lucas; great-grandchildren, Bobby and Farrah Clayton from Garland, and Bailey Smith also from Garland; and many close friends to the family.
Harold was preceded in death by his second son, David Smith.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Sunday evening, November 26, 2017 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. A funeral service will be held Monday, November 27, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.at the funeral home. A graveside service with full military honors will be held Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 11:00 at Harlan Cemetery in Shelby County, Iowa.
Memorials may be made to the Military Heritage Collection of North Texas and the Texas Historical Society.
Military Heritage Collection of North Texas
20798 County Road 590
Nevada, Texas 75173
469-434-0396
militaryheritagecollection@gmail.com
Sachse Historical Society
3033 6th Street
Sachse, Texas 75048
www.sachsehistoricalsociety.org
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