SMITH, Kent

Kent Paul Smith, of Atlanta, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 19, 2023. Born June 8, 1941 in Alva, Oklahoma to Azor Campbell and Fern Lucille (Wiebener) Smith. Kent was the first of his family to be born in a hospital and was raised on a wheat farm and ranch in nearby Hardtner, Kansas. Hardtner was a tight-knit community that Kent often spoke very fondly of - likening his experience there to that of the town featured in The Last Picture Show. He graduated from Hardtner High School in 1959 with nine classmates and continued his studies at Northwestern State College in Alva, graduating with honors. With a beautiful tenor voice, he had leading roles in many of the school's musical productions. He obtained his law degree from Washburn University Law School in Topeka, Kansas, graduating Cum Laude in 1966 where he was on the Washburn Law Journal Editorial Board. In 1992, he was named the University's first Alumni Fellow in Law and also served on the Law School Association Board of Governors.

Upon graduation from law school, Kent served as law clerk to Judge Delmas C. Hill on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He developed a close professional and personal relationship with Judge Hill whom he considered an important mentor and dear friend. Judge Hill officiated Kent's marriage to his beloved Karen. After his clerkship, he served as an attorney for the Atomic Energy Commision in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was there Kent discovered two things he fell in love with: trees and water – scarcities on the prairie where he was raised. A year later he moved to Atlanta where he joined the law firm Smith, Currie and Hancock specializing in government contract and construction law representing public and private owners, contractors, architects and engineers. He was the founder and senior partner of the law firm Smith & Fleming for seventeen years. Kent was a member of the Georgia and Kansas Bars, and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Claims Court and the Fourth, Fifth, Tenth, Eleventh and Federal U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. He was nationally recognized and received numerous awards throughout his distinguished legal career. His meticulous attention to detail and unparalleled work ethic made him one of the top authorities on construction law in the United States.

Kent created many fond memories with Karen, and his sons, Azor and Clayton at their lakehouse on Lake Burton. He loved entertaining friends there, often to soundtracks ranging from classical music to Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison or Ella Fitzgerald among others. As empty nesters, he traded lake life for island life and fulfilled Karen's lifelong dream of having a home on Saint Simons Island where the two have spent wonderful years together enjoying beautiful sunsets, the laid back lifestyle, and the camaraderie of dear friends. A true gentleman and possessing insatiable curiosity, he was purposeful in connecting with people and loved to share stories, a lot of stories!

Kent is survived by his devoted wife Karen Sue (Smith) Smith; their children, Azor Campbell Smith II, of Anchorage, AK, and Clayton Lane Smith (Margaret Hannah), of Atlanta; his brother Roger Wiley Smith of Wausau, WI; granddaughter, Elle Harper Smith of Atlanta; and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 1 at 11 o'clock at Northside United Methodist Church, 2799 Northside Drive NW. Dr. Bill Burch officiating, with a celebration of life reception to immediately follow at Local Three Kitchen, 3290 Northside Pkwy NW. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Northside United Methodist Church or the William Breman Jewish Home on Kent's behalf.