Smith, Douglas 1918-2006

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born June 18, 1918, in Success, AR; died of dehydration as a complication of throat cancer, May 18, 2006, in Arlington, VA. Journalist and author. Smith had a long career as a reporter for several newspapers and was a specialist on events occurring in U.S. territories and possessions. Born Tezzie Smith in a small Arkansas town, he came from a poor family and only managed to escape a life of hardship when two of his aunts provided him the financial assistance he needed to attend college. He attended the University of Arkansas, completing a B.A. in 1940, and then worked as an editor for the Russellville Courier-Democrat in Arkansas; in 1942 he was campaign manager for U.S. Congressman J. William Fulbright. During this time, he changed his first name to Douglas because he felt it sounded more professional. After working as a reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune for two years, he served in the Army Air Forces during the last months of World War II. Smith then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, to work for the Cleveland Press, which sent him to Washington, DC, to be a correspondent. Settling for a time in Washington, he was an editorial writer for the Scripps-Howard Newspapers from 1952 to 1957, and then was hired by the Pittsburgh Press. Smith retired in 1978. During his years as a correspondent, Smith traveled the world, reporting on events in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, as well as in Europe and South America. He also covered several presidential campaigns and national conventions.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Washington Post, May 27, 2006, p. B5.