Ted A. Smith

Ted A. Smith, 80, of Meridian, died May 4, 2006 at a local hospital. He was born in Pendleton, Ore. June 2, 1925, to Grace Oliver and Chauncey Raymond Smith. He attended Pendleton schools graduating in 1942 at the age of 16. He also worked at Pendleton's new radio station, KWRC, as announcer until he turned 18. Joined the Navy Air Corps and attended V-12 schools in North Dakota and Minnesota then Y-S training at St. Mary's Pre-Flight in California. Ted actually started flying at Norman, Okla. in 1945 and completed training at Corpus Christi, Texas. When war was over Ted returned to Pendleton for the announcing position at KWRC. On July 7, 1946 he married Phyllis Maxine Stiles in Eugene, Ore. He later became manager of KWRC in 1948 remaining until 1955 when he left to build KUMA, Pendleton's second station. In 1963, he built KIDY in John Day and in 1976 added FM to KUMA. The stations were sold in 1990 and he retired. In retirement, he still stayed active in broadcasting being the anchor voice for radio of the Pendleton Round Up, a job he performed for 53 years. Active in civic affairs, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce, president and Lt. Governor of Kiwanis, and vice-president of the Umatil1a County Historical Society. He was president of the Oregon Association of Broadcasters and in 1988 was named by that organization as "Oregon Broadcaster of the Year". He was called up by two Oregon governors to serve. Governor Tom McCall appointed him to the first Oregon Commission on Public Broadcasting and Governor Vic Atiyeh named him to the Oregon State Board of Aeronautics. Smith stayed active in flying, amassing over 5,000 hours as a private and commercial pilot. He held commercial, instrument, and twin-engine ratings and flew both for the US Forest Service on fire patrol and for the Game Commission doing elk census work. He acquired an amateur radio license in 1946 with the call sign of W7JOG. He was named by the Pendleton Jaycees as "Junior First Citizen" in 1949, and in 1979 The Chamber of Commerce named him ÒFirst Citizen.Ó He was one of two men named by the Chamber to go after Fleetwood Industries and devoted six weeks almost fulltime in what turned out to be a successful effort to locate their trailer plant in Pendleton. Highlight of his professional career was being elected to the board of the National Association of Broadcasters serving fellow broadcasters in several northwest states. This required numerous trips to the nation's capital. Memberships included a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, Elks, Pendleton Country Club and others. His hobbies included golf, hunting, and fishing. Ted is survived by a wife Phyllis, son; Gregory and his wife Darlene, a daughter Cherie Coonce and her husband Jack, eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Ted, or as he was affectionately called "Pop" by his family; was truly the consummate gentleman. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Association of Broadcasters Scholarship Fund or the Pendleton Salvation Army. A memorial service is being planned for Pendleton, Ore. in a time to be announced in the near future.