Donald Lynn Smith, Sr.

Donald Lynn Smith was born January 24, 1923 in Walkersville, Maryland, the son of Beulah May and Morris Lynn Smith. Graduated from Walkersville High School in 1940 and from Texas Tech University in 1947 with a B.S. in Agriculture, Dairy Manufactures major. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps three years during World War II and one year in Korea. Honorably discharged with the rank of Captain in the USMC.

He and Jean Renner were married in Lubbock, Texas on June 13, 1946. They have one son, Donald L. Smith, Jr., and four daughters, Mrs. Karen Groce, Mrs. Diane Martinez, Mrs. Cindy Hogue, and Susan K. Smith. They have nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

He has been associated with Bowman, Inc., a retail lumber and hardware chain for over fifty-five years, with stores in Lubbock, San Angelo, and Brownwood, Texas and is presently serving as Chairman of the Board.

He serves on the Board of Directors for the Lumbermen Association of Texas and was President in 1989-1990. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealers Association and was elected Texas Lumberman of the Year for the year of 1997-1998.

CIVIC

He served as President of the West San Angelo Kiwanis Club in 1958 and was Lt. Governor of Division 7 in 1969, received the Kiwanis Legion of Honor in 1979 and became a life member of Kiwanis International in 1971. To date he has forty-nine years of perfect attendance in Kiwanis.

He is a member of the Lubbock Executive Association, and an active member of the Lubbockview Christian Church, Disciples of Christ.

MASONIC HISTORY

Raised a Master Mason in San Angelo Lodge No. 570 on February 16, 1951, Worshipful Master 1957-58 and is presently a member of Yellowhouse Lodge No. 841, Lubbock, Texas. Deputy Grand Master of the 93rd Masonic District in 1983 and 1989. He also received the Life Certificate in 1978 and was Regional Conference Coordinator in 1988, and became a 50 Year Mason in 2001.

Exalted a Royal Arch Mason in San Angelo Chapter No. 170 on October 1, 1952 and is now a member of Hugh J. McClellan Chapter No. 248, Lubbock, Texas. He served as High Priest 1973-74 and was appointed Grand Captain of the Host in 1974 and District Deputy Grand High Priest of District No. 38 in 1975. In addition, he received the Order of the High Priesthood in 1973 and was elected R:E: Grand Scribe of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas in December 2000. He was elected to the next station each year, became a 50 Year Member in 2002, and was installed as M:E: Grand High Priest in December 2003.

Greeted in San Angelo Council No. 110 on October 1, 1952 and is now a member of Hugh J. McClellan Council No. 183. He has served as Thrice Illustrious Master 1971-1972 and District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 38 in 1973. He also received the Order of the Silver Trowel in 1971 and the Super Excellent Master Degree in 1973. In addition, he was elected as R:I: Grand Principal Conductor of the Work in 1993, R:I: Deputy Grand Master in 1994, and installed M:I: Grand Master in December 1995 to serve the year 1996, and became a 50 Year Member in 2002.

Knighted in San Angelo Commandery No. 28 on October 23, 1952 and is presently a member of Lubbock Commandery No. 60, Lubbock, Texas. He served as Commander in 1972 and was elected the Eminent Grand Sentinel of the Grand Commandery Knights Templar of Texas in 1974. He was elected to the next station each year and installed Right Eminent Grand Commander on June 9, 1980 as well as being a member of the Past Commanders Association. On August 10, 1991 he was installed South Central Department Commander, Grand Encampment for a three year term. He was made a Knight Commander of the Temple by Grand Encampment on September 28, 1992 and commissioned a Knight Preceptor in Texas Chapter Order of Knights Preceptor on April 28, 1999, and became a 50 Year Member in 2002.

He became a charter and life member of Suez Shrine Temple in San Angelo, Texas, served as Outer and Inner Guard, and is a member of Chapter 10, Order of the Eastern Star, also in San Angelo, Texas, and became a 50 Year Member in 2002.

In addition, he became a member of Llano Estacado Conclave Red Cross of Constantine in Lubbock, Texas in 1972, served as Viceroy in 1980, Sovereign in 1981, Grand Herald in 1987-88, United Grand Imperial Council, and on June 7, 1997 he was appointed Intendant General of the Grand Council at Large.

He has received the Order of the Purple Cross and made Associate Regent of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, and a member of West Texas College No. 36.

He was introduced into Texas Priory No. 23, Knights of the York Cross of Honour on October 3, 1974, and served Texas Priory as Eminent Prior for the 1991 year.

On September 3, 1991, he was elected and installed Right Eminent Grand Sentinel of the Convent General as well as Grand Marshall in 1992, Grand Seneschal in 1993, Deputy Grand Master-General in 1994, and was elected Grand Master-General on October 21, 1995 in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

OTHER MASONIC ORGANIZAITON MEMBERSHIPS

Lubbock Chapter No. 517 National Sojourners
Almeron Dickerson Camp Heros of "96
Allied Masonic Degrees, Grand Master's Council A
Grand Chief Council O, Knight Masons
Grand College of Rites-Great Chief 1996- Excellent Chief 1996
Philaiethes Society
Ye Ancient Order of the Corks
Masonic Order of the Bath
The Royal Order of Scotland- Life Member
Texas College Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis-VIII
DeMolay Legion of Honour 1996
The Forty-Fivers-New Jersey (Association of past Grand Commanders)
Scottish Rite Research Society
York Rite Esoteric Association
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
Tranquility Lodge 2000
Order of St. Thomas of Acon
Texas Lodge of Research
The Sovereign Order of Knights Preceptor (Maryland Chapter)
Order of the Thistle
Grand College of America- Knight Grand Commander
Royal Knight of the Royal Order of Kamehameha

Obituary

DONALD LYNN SMITH, SR.

Donald Lynn Smith Sr., 84, of Lubbock passed away on May 13, 2007.

Don was born Jan. 24, 1923 in Walkersville, Maryland to Beulah Newman Smith and Morris Lynn Smith. After graduating from Walkersville High School in 1940, Don came to Lubbock to attend Texas Technological College and work for his uncle, Samuel Newman at Bowman Lumber Company. He joined the Marine Corps in 1943, serving in Okinawa and China in World War II and later in the Korean War, achieving the rank of Captain. On June 13, 1946, he married Laura Jean Renner in Lubbock, Texas at the First Christian Church. Don graduated from Texas Tech in 1947 in Dairy Manufacturers.

Most recently, Don was Chairman of the Board and Treasurer of Bowman Lumber Company. During his 60 years in the lumber industry, he was involved in the Lumberman's Association of Texas, serving on numerous committees and as its president from 1989-1990. He was elected Lumberman of the Year for 1996-1997. Don served as director for the National Lumber and Building Materials Dealer Association from 1991-1996. Locally, he was a member of the Lubbock Kiwanis Club and received a 53 year perfect attendance award. He also served as Lieutenant Governor of Division 7 of the Texas-Oklahoma division. Don was also a member of the Lubbock Executive Association as well as a member of Lubbockview Christian Church.

The Masonic Order was very important to Don for over 56 Years. In 1951, he became a Master Mason in San Angelo, Texas. He was a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas, Past Grand Commander of the Knights Templar of Texas, Past Convent General of the Knights York Cross of Honor of the United States of America, Past Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees headquartered in Washington D.C., Past Deputy Grand Governor of the York Rite College Number 36, Past Department Commander of the South Central Department Grand Encampment of the United States of America, Past Grand Precepter of the Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priest of the United States of America, Past Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Texas, Past Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas. Don was also a 33rd Degree Mason of the Scottish Rite, and a member of the Suez Shrine in San Angelo, and a member of the National Sojourners. He was also a member of the Heroes of 76.

Don loved traveling with his family, fishing, and shelling pecans from his own trees. Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Jean; daughter, Karen Groce and husband Wayne; daughter, Diane Martinez and husband Gilbert; son, Don Smith Jr. and wife Debbie; daughter, Cindy Hogue and husband Kim; and daughter, Suzy Smith; nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, three dogs and six grand-dogs.

Funeral services will be held at Sanders Memorial Chapel on May 16, 2007 at 2 p.m., with Graham Childress officiating. Masonic graveside will follow at Peaceful Gardens Cemetery in Woodrow, Texas. Family suggests memorials be made to Scottish Rite Learning Center of West Texas, P.O. Box 10135 Lubbock, Texas 79408 or Lubbockview Christian Church 3301-34th Street Lubbock, TX 79410, or a favorite charity.

The family will receive friends from 7 -8 p.m., Tuesday at Sanders Funeral Home. Burial: Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park, Woodrow, (Lubbock County) Texas