Kenneth William Smith

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Kenneth William Smith, age 93, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, at Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born Feb. 19, 1924, in Pittsburg, Kan., the son of Walter and Vera Hesson Smith. After graduating from Pittsburg High School, he served in the U.S. Army, experiencing the Battle of the Bulge and Buzz Bomb Alley. He married Ann Dietz on Feb. 26, 1949, in Pittsburg. She preceded him in death on July 19, 2016. Kenneth graduated with his teaching degree from Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg. He was working for Joe Smith Tobacco when approached by Jake Underwood to come to Fort Scott in 1950. He agreed, and started the drivers education program and began teaching. Throughout his 39-year career, he taught mechanical drawing, shop, civics, and math. He also taught at Fort Scott Community College. He coached several sports, most notably, golf. He worked many sporting events over the years, including track meets. He officiated high school and college basketball and football. When he had spare time, he could usually be found playing golf. He still holds the Fort Scott Country Club course record for nine holes at 29. He liked playing gin-rummy and pinochle. He relaxed to music from the Rat Pack era. In his later years, he began raising cattle. He was president of the Fort Scott Saddle Club and enjoyed riding with his daughter, Kim. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

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