We lost some great ones in century’s first decade: Harold L. Smith

Harold L. Smith

A champion of woodland management and forestry education, Harold L. Smith, died Oct. 30, 2007, at age 97.

The Mahoning County, Ohio, resident retired in 1972 from the Department of Defense U.S. Army as a civilian executive officer. He served in the Navy during WWII, the Korean Conflict, and also spent 22 years in the Naval Reserves.

Harold purchased his farm in 1960 and immediately started improving a 51-acre woodlot, which eventually became a certified tree farm. He used his precise, military mind to pencil out the return on his investment — which helped many other landowners view their woods in a new light. He helped found the Northeastern Ohio Forestry Association, serving as president and trustee. He also served on the local Soil and Water District as supervisor, and trustee of the Ohio Forestry Association. He and his wife Dorothy were honored to be the Ohio Tree Farmer of the Year twice, once in 1974 and again in 1985.

A tireless educator, he calculated he had personally reached more than 70,000 students with his forestry and conservation messages.