Distinguished Alumni honored in Troy

BY ERIC HRIN (STAFF WRITER)
Published: November 21, 2009

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TROY - Howard J. Smith Jr. of West Burlington was praised for his volunteerism during the Distinguished Alumni Awards Recognition Program at Memorial Auditorium in Troy Thursday.

Smith wasn't the only one named a Distinguished Alumni. In addition, a posthumous Distinguished Alumni Award was made honoring the late Dr. L.W. Brown. The awards were sponsored by the Troy Area School District Foundation.

Family members of the two honorees gathered on stage after the ceremony for pictures following a ceremony that also featured honors from state Rep. Matt Baker.

Smith's numerous volunteer efforts were recognized with Baker calling him a "tremendous asset" to the many organizations Smith has been involved with.

Smith has been married to Olynda Smith since 1959. They have two children, Cynthia Smith Porter and Curtis Smith, in addition to five grandchildren.

Smith, who expressed his gratitude to his wife, his children and their families, and his sister, thought the honor was the most flattering thing that will happen to him.

"I have found that the most satisfying, rewarding things I do are those things that are done to help others without any expectation of return," he said, saying he found it to be true in his various activities. He said the most meaningful returns in life are not financial.

Smith graduated from Troy High School in 1946 and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Finance from Bucknell University in 1950.

According to his Mansfield University online biographical sketch, Smith served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves retiring with the rank of Major in 1975 after 21 years. Following his military career, he was employed with GTE Sylvania. He then became self-employed as a financial planner with American Express Financial Advisors (now Ameriprise Financial) where he retired in 2006 after 45 years.

Smith's service work includes 25 years as member of Mansfield University Council of Trustees (12 of which as a member of the Executive Board of the State Association of Trustees of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education - two years as president). He is also a trustee of Guthrie Healthcare System and Martha Lloyd Community Services Inc., a board member of Community Foundation for the Twin Tiers, a former township supervisor and former president of Western Bradford County Council of Governments, county committee man of the Bradford County Republican Party, former board of trustees member of the Bradford County Library, and a past master of the local grange. He is a member of United Methodist Church, (serving as chairman of the church council), a member of various Masonic bodies, and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. Smith formerly served as a tutor for the Bradford County Literacy Program at the Bradford County Correctional Facility.

Smith was awarded the Eberle Award for Volunteerism at Mansfield University in 2000 by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. His hobbies include golf, sheep farming and volunteering at Bradford County Manor. He and his wife have accompanied the Mansfield University Concert Choir on all five of their triennial European tours.

The late Dr. Brown, who passed away in 2001 and was described in his obituary as "a major influence in area affairs," was honored next.

Speaking for his father and accepting the honor was Dr. William Brown. His other children - Pete Brown, Betsy Seeley, and Becky Reider - were also there.

According to his obituary, he was a graduate of Troy High School, the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; was a physician with a family practice for more than 42 years, and was the founder of Troy Community Hospital in 1950; for several years was a physician at the Bradford County Manor; was the team physician for Troy High School sports and was always at the sidelines at Troy High School football games. He was a fellow and lifetime member of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, was board certified in general surgery and was a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the obituary notes.

During the awards, his various activities, like founding Troy Community Hospital and putting his own time and money into the building of it, was recalled, along with the love his employees had for him and his lasting contribution to the Troy area.

In speaking about his father, Dr. William Brown remembered how he made house calls and his superior diagnostic skills.

"He would go out of his way to serve his public."

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.

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