WILLIAM LEROY SMITH III ’39
WILLIAM LEROY SMITH III, 83, of Skyview Manor died Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004, at 6:00 a.m. in the Fox Nursing Home, Chester, West Virginia.
He was born Feb. 1, 1921, in Chester, the son of Richard B. Smith and Belva Newell Smith. He grew up in Chester and the family later moved to West 6th Street in East Liverpool.
While attending Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, Bill was witness to the famous and devastating tornado of 1936.
He was graduated in 1939 from The Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., where he played football. His collegiate education at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., was interrupted by his service during World War II when he served in the Army Air Corps as a flight navigator in the South Pacific. Bill’s interest in flying continued long after the war, and he enjoyed piloting his own plane for many years. When he returned to Wesleyan, he was a member and president of Chi Psi Fraternity, played on the Red Cardinals football team and was graduated in 1946.
After returning to East Liverpool, Bill joined the family-owned Taylor, Smith and Taylor pottery. He worked in every facet of the pottery and served as president of the company until his retirement in 1975, when the pottery was sold to Anchor-Hocking Corporation. Highlights of his tenure at TS&T were the introduction of LuRay Ware and securing accounts with American Greetings and Sears Roebuck.
After retiring from Anchor-Hocking, Bill founded CMSUSA, a company that imports products for the pottery industry. He remained chairman of the company until his death.
He represented the pottery industry in many national organizations, and served as president and board member of the Association of Pottery and Glass Manufacturers up until his death.
An avid golfer, Bill was a member of the East Liverpool Country Club, learning to play there as a young boy. He was also a member of Vasari Country Club in Bonita Beach, Fla., where he maintained a residence.
Other organizations that benefited from Bill’s service were the East Liverpool YMCA Board; the Board of Potters Savings and Loan; Riverview Cemetery Board; St. Clair Land Company; and the East Liverpool Country Club Board.
He was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
Survivors include his wife, the former Virginia Purinton at home; a brother, Richard B. Smith, Jr. of East Liverpool; a sister, Shirley Smith Koenig of Huntsville, Ala.; a son, William L. Smith IV (Wink) and his wife, Dorothea, of East Liverpool, and a daughter, Barrie Archer and husband Thomas also of East Liverpool; and five granddaughters, Tristam D. Griffith, Alexis W. Dowding Wesleyan Class of 1996, Newell G. Smith, Leah S. Smith and Patricia B. Smith. A step-grandson, Patrick Archer, also survives and great-granddaughter Maya W. Griffith. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes be made to Dollars for Scholars, P.O. Box 458, East Liverpool OH 43920 or the East Liverpool Area YMCA, 500 E. Fourth St., East Liverpool OH 43920.