Paul T. Smith

BURKESVILLE SMITH, RETIRED U.S. ARMY MAJOR GENERAL PAUL T., 85, passed away Thursday, October 30, 2008. Born in Burkesville, June 22, 1923, the son of Sam J. and Bonnie Ferguson Smith, he enlisted in the Army in 1940, was appointed a warrant officer in October, 1942, and commissioned a second lieutenant on January 6, 1943. During World War II, he served with the 1st and 6th Armored Divisions. He attended the University of Maryland, where he received his BA and MBA degrees and was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society. He was a graduate of the Armor School, the Adjutant General School, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College. He steadily rose through the military ranks and on September 1, 1975, he was promoted to major general and named adjutant general of the United States Army. In addition to his many assignments with the U.S. Army, Maj. Gen. Smith was the commanding general of the worldwide United States Army Computer Systems Command, before being named adjutant general for the U.S. Army. On his retirement from the Army, he joined Taylor Craft Industries in Burkesville, as executive vice president and general manager. His vision for community service was realized as he served as mayor of the city of Burkesville, from 1982-1998 and was president of the Kentucky League of Cities. He is survived by his wife, Hazel W. Smith, of Burkesville; his sons, Greg Smith, of Gulf Breeze, FL, and Doug Smith, of Marble Falls, TX; his daughter, Paula Richardson, of Clemmons, NC; stepson, Tom Hoffman, of Texas; stepdaughters, Letha Lynn, of Celina, TN, and Mary Kay Smith, of Colorado; grandchildren, Adam Smith, Charlotte Smith, Kelly Smith, Scott Smith, William Richardson, and Chris Richardson; and nephew, Ronnie Stinson, of Scottsville, KY. Service: 11 a.m. (CT) Monday at Norris-New Funeral Home, Burkesville, with full military honors. Burial: Burkesville Cemetery. Visitation: after 2 p.m. (CT) Sunday.