HOWARD GRANT SMITH

Howard Grant Smith A Kind & Gentle Man Surrounded by his family in his boyhood home, Howard Grant Smith, Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great-Grandfather passed through the earthly veil on Friday, May 28, 2010 at the age of 89. Howard was born on March 13, 1921 to Willard Richards and Florence Grant Smith, the sixth of eight children, and the grandson of Presidents Joseph F. Smith and Heber J Grant of the LDS Church. He was an Eagle Scout, and attended the first National Scout Jamboree in 1936. Howard served as a missionary in the Eastern States Mission, where he was involved in the first Hill Cumorah Pagent. Later, as an engineer for KSL, he worked with Dr. Harvey Fletcher to upgrade the Hill Cumorah sound system, which marked one of the first uses of stereo sound. He served in the U.S. Navy as a radio operator during World War II. He married Lucile Clayton on December 20, 1943, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they had five children. She preceded him in death in February of 1993. He married Carol Smith Madsen on May 21, 1996. Howard started his professional career working for KSL Radio, and when television came along, worked for KSL Television. Howard was considered to be a television pioneer. He was instrumental in inventing, improving, and adapting many new technologies for use at KSL TV. Howard was always an innovator and problem solver. He helped overcome many technical aspects related to various broadcast challenges. He coordinated and oversaw many of the closed-circuit broadcasts for Temple dedications throughout the world. He worked for KSL his entire career, and as Chief Engineer supervised the construction of KSL's Broadcast House at the Triad Center in the years before his retirement. He retired from KSL after 43 years of dedicated service. Howard served in many Church callings, including Ward Clerk, Counselor in the Bishopric, and on the Stake High Council. He could always be counted on to complete any task assigned to him. Howard also served for many years as an Explorer leader, and every year went with his Explorers on a week-long adventure. Some of these included an exploratory trip into the Land of Standing Men in Southern Utah, and running the Colorado and Snake Rivers. His Explorer post was featured in Boy's Life Magazine and on the cover of the Utah State map. He was awarded Scouting's Silver Beaver Award for his many years of outstanding Explorer leadership. His Explorers will never forget his leadership, nor the lessons he taught in everything from spiritual preparedness to backpack and kayak construction. Howard was a kind, loving, quiet, gentle man who possessed a deep and abiding testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He imparted of his testimony lovingly and freely to all his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Carol; children; H. Clayton and Sandra B. Smith, James C. and Susan L. Smith, Nancy L. and Donald Lee Smith, Willard C. and Rosemary M. Smith, and Florence L. and Oliver K. Myers, a step-daughter, Christine Madsen, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a Sister Florence Smith Jacobsen. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 Noon, Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at the Holladay 28th Ward Chapel, 2625 East Milo Way (4910 South). A viewing will be held Tuesday 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple, and at the ward Wednesday beginning at at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service.