Carl William Smith

Carl William Smith, of Charlottesville, died peacefully Thursday afternoon, December 8, at Westminster Canterbury. Born to Dr. Carl W. Smith and Lila Vicars Smith, Young Carl grew up in Wise, Va. and attended Greenbrier Military School in Lewisburg, W.Va., where he played football. His grandfather, knowing how much he loved sports, worried at the time that Carl had decided to "educate his feet" instead of his mind. This proved to be untrue as Carl graduated from high school and was recruited to play football for the University of Virginia where he earned a degree in economics. At the university, he played offensive guard for Coach Art Guepe, learned an ethical basis for commerce through classes such as E.A. Kincaid's Money and Banking, and received his B.A. in 1951. He credited his education under the honor system at UVa. as a profoundly important influence in his personal and professional life. Carl served as a second lieutenant in the Army from 1951 to 1953 and spent one year in Korea. Mr. Smith started his career in the early 1950's as a stock broker in Richmond, Virginia, then he and his wife returned to Charlottesville, a town they loved, to raise a family and begin his life as a businessman known for his principles and vision. He founded the AMVEST Corporation in 1960 and was CEO and Chairman of the Board until his retirement in early 2004. Mr. Smith remained as Director Emeritus until his death. Mr. Smith was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, The Raven Society, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and the Imp Society. He, along with the Vicars family, established a chair in Business Ethics at the University of Virginia Law School in memory of his grandfather, Judge O.M. Vicars, of Wise, Va. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife of 53 years, Hunter J. Smith; three children, Carl Vicars Smith, Stuart Peyton Smith and Hunter Smith Croson; and one grandson, Corey Carter Croson. He will also be remembered by cousins, Mary M. Walker of Sarasota, Fla., and Dr. L.B. Sheppard of Boca Grande, Fla. and their families. Family and friends recall his competitive spirit and great sense of humor. Associates and colleagues loved his hard-nosed, creative, and ethical approach to business dealings. A memorial service will be held Monday, December 12, 2005 at 4 p.m. at the University of Virginia Chapel, the Reverend Miller Hunter presiding. A reception follows for remembrances at Alumni Hall. There will be a private burial at Monticello Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Mr. Smith's name to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, P.O. Box 316, Charlottesville, Va. 22901 or the Virginia Athletic Foundation, specifically a Carl Smith scholarship for football, P.O. Box 400833, Charlottesville, Va. 22904. The family would like to thank Westminster Canterbury for the care given to Mr. Smith during his illness. Very special thanks go to Shirley Henderson, Doretha Givens, and Doris Dowell. Hill and Wood Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.