Arthur Smith - Class of 1940
Mr. Smith was born in Providence, Utah and was raised in Sparks, Nevada. He was born to Arthur M. Smith, Sr. and Elva Smith, and grew up with one brother, Robert Smith, and one sister, Margery Smith. Arthur led an outstanding life and made great contributions to making Nevada what it is today.
When he attended Sparks High School he was a good student. He enjoyed school and spent time with his friend, Paul Tholl. Their friendship continued until Mr. Smith’s death. He attended the University of Nevada, Reno for one year, majoring in engineering. After that, he worked for the railroad for a short time before enlisting in the Navy. He joined the Navy and became a pilot. When he first tried to enlist, he was two pounds under the weight requirement. His recruiter told him to go back and drink one quart of milk and eat two bananas and then come back. He did so and was weighed again, this time making the exact weight requirement. He had gained those two needed pounds!
Before the Navy, in 1941, when Mr. Smith was only nineteen years old, he began a career as a file clerk in a bank. After the Navy he returned to his banking career at the Bank of Nevada in Las Vegas. In just fourteen years, he rose to the position of president of the institution. In this position, he was the youngest executive chief of any major American bank at the age of thirty-seven. Later he became President of The First National Bank. In his career he was chosen for lead committee roles in the American Bankers Association. He was also one of only five people named by the United States Comptroller of the Currency to perform reviews for banking procedures and policies. He was also a trustee to two of the largest charitable organizations: The William M. Keck Foundation and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. In 1984, he retired as President and Chairman.
Mr. Smith was married for fifty-two years to his wife, Charlotte. Together they had four children, two sons and two daughters, eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Inducted 2007
