Thomas K. Smith
Memorial Article prepared by I-2mates Joe Schwar with inputs from Mike Dugan and Palmer McGrew
Thomas K. Smith was born on February 7, 1936, in Mankato, Minnesota to Urban M. Smith and Maxine C. (Gfrerer) Smith. He was the second of four children, the eldest being his brother Jerry and the younger two their twin sisters Judy and Jane. In 1944 the family moved to Deephaven, a suburb of Minneapolis on Lake Minnetonka. He graduated 12th in his class of 125 from Minnetonka High School, where he enjoyed sports, earning 9 varsity letters 3 each in Football, Basketball, and Track, being captain of the football and track teams his senior year. He was class president in his junior and senior years, elected to the National Honor Society, National Athletic Scholarship Society, and a representative to Minnesota Boy's State. His parents felt he should attend college, but were not in a position to foot the bill. His mother asked if he would consider West Point, and with encouragement from the school superintendent, he applied for an appointment from Senator Hubert Humphrey. Tom received the first alternate appointment, took the entrance exams, and was notified that he was qualified, but the nominee who had the principal appointment was also qualified and would accept the appointment. Ultimately the Academic Board selected Tom from among the qualified alternates, and he was notified one week prior to the July 6 entry date. Tom accepted and flew to New York on July 5, 1954 with two other appointees, one of whom has his name on the Vietnam Memorial.
Tom entered West Point as a naive High School graduate, and soon learned that most of his classmates enjoyed accolades similar to his. But he persisted and quickly was identified as being among the best. As stated in the 1958 Howitzer, "Tom was one to depend on and to follow"; a reputation that was to follow him through his military service and into his civilian career. As a cadet athlete he earned his class numerals as a member of the plebe track team, and played on two intramural brigade championship basketball teams. As a first classman he was the Company I-2 Honor Representative.
For a good part of his cadet days Tom thought of being commissioned in the Air Force but the results of the commissioning physical were to decide otherwise. Because of his high class standing upon graduation he was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers. Tom served honorably in the Army Corps of Engineers for more than nine years, completing airborne and ranger training, and receiving his MS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and serving overseas in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, earning the Legion of Merit for his service in Vietnam.
It was while serving his utilization tour at Ellsworth, AFB in South Dakota that Tom met Catherine McGoldrick and they were married June 2, 1962. They had three children, TK, who graduated from the Air Force Academy; Wendy Sue, who graduated from Clarke College, and Brian, who attended Notre Dame on an NROTC scholarship.
Tom left the Army in 1967, returned to Minnetonka with his family, and began a successful career as a Professional Engineer. He was named the Young Engineer of the Year in 1970 by the Society of American Military Engineers. He served as the President of the Minnetonka Chapter of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers from 1974-1975, and was active in the American Society of Civil Engineers and The Structural Engineering Institute. In the 1980s he launched his own business as a consulting civil and structural engineer. He contributed to projects large and small in cities across the country: stadiums, skyscrapers, civic buildings, memorials, and universities. Tom and his family moved to Mesa, AZ, in the early 90's and truly enjoyed desert living.
Tom was a man of strong faith in God and lived out his life as a humble servant leader. He related to all people in a personal way with love and understanding. Along with his wife he was very active in his Catholic Church communities in a multitude of ways, serving where he was called and needed.
In a letter to the class scribe in July 1998 Tom related how he had a heart attack just a matter of days after returning from the class 40th reunion. He ended the note with the following advice to his classmates, "Look at your priorities and take care of the really important things in your life". This is truly the way Tom lived every day, whether in uniform or as a civilian.
A few years later Tom waxed philosophically in another note describing the relationship among West Point classmates as being like an extended family; a bonding he had come to appreciate more and more as he continued his journey through life. He went on to thank one of his Beast Barracks roommates, who in 2002 had helped his son Brian, a newly commissioned naval officer, get settled in when he was assigned to a course in Charleston, SC.
Tom was a lifelong athlete. He shared his love of sports, particularly golf, with his friends and family but his true passion was his family. A devoted husband and loving father, he was a wonderful example and formed special relationships with his children and grandchildren. He is loved and will be missed.
Thomas K. Smith
Prepared lovingly by Catherine Smith and the Smith Kids
Mesa - Thomas K. Smith, born February 7, 1936, Mankato, MN, age 84, of Mesa, AZ, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2020, at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents, Urban and Maxine Smith. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Catherine (McGoldrick), his son TK (Debbie), daughter Wendy Sue Early (Dave), son Brian, grandson Austin Thomas Smith (Samantha), granddaughter Taylor Marie Smith, grandson Nathaniel Thomas Early, granddaughter Isabella Grace Smith, and great-granddaughter Ruth Everett Laine Smith. He is also survived by his brother Jerome, and sisters Judith Dunlevy (Charlie) and Jane Parsons (Dave) and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Tom graduated from Minnetonka High School in 1954 and received an appointment from Senator Hubert Humphrey to the United States Military Academy (West Point). He graduated from West Point in 1958 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Tom served honorably in the US Army Corps of Engineers for more than nine years completing airborne and ranger training, and receiving his MS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University. He served in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, earning the Legion of Merit for his service in Vietnam. He returned to Minnetonka with his family and began a successful career as a Professional Engineer. Tom was named the Young Engineer of the Year in 1970 by the Society of American Military Engineers. He served as the President of the Minnetonka Chapter of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers from 1974-1975 and was active in the American Society of Civil Engineers and Structural Engineering Institute. In the 1980s he launched his own business as a consulting civil and structural engineer. He contributed to projects large and small in cities across the country: stadiums, skyscrapers, civic buildings, memorials, and universities. Tom and his family moved to Mesa, AZ, in the early 90's and truly enjoyed desert living. Tom was a man of strong faith in God and lived out his life as a humble servant leader. He related to all people in a personal way with love and understanding. Along with his wife he was very active in his Catholic Church communities in a multitude of ways, serving where he was called and needed. Tom was a lifelong athlete. He shared his love of sports, particularly golf (including twenty years as a part of the Arizona Outlaws), with his friends and family but his true passion was his family. A devoted husband and loving father, he was a wonderful example and formed special relationships with his children and grandchildren. He is loved and will be missed. Memorials in Tom's name can be made to the West Point Association of Graduates (westpointaog.org) or St Joseph the Worker (sjwjobs.org). A memorial service will be held at a future date. Arrangements entrusted to Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home.
Published in The Arizona Republic from Aug. 10 to Aug. 12, 2020.
Memorial Article prepared by I-2mates Joe Schwar with inputs from Mike Dugan and Palmer McGrew
Thomas K. Smith was born on February 7, 1936, in Mankato, Minnesota to Urban M. Smith and Maxine C. (Gfrerer) Smith. He was the second of four children, the eldest being his brother Jerry and the younger two their twin sisters Judy and Jane. In 1944 the family moved to Deephaven, a suburb of Minneapolis on Lake Minnetonka. He graduated 12th in his class of 125 from Minnetonka High School, where he enjoyed sports, earning 9 varsity letters 3 each in Football, Basketball, and Track, being captain of the football and track teams his senior year. He was class president in his junior and senior years, elected to the National Honor Society, National Athletic Scholarship Society, and a representative to Minnesota Boy's State. His parents felt he should attend college, but were not in a position to foot the bill. His mother asked if he would consider West Point, and with encouragement from the school superintendent, he applied for an appointment from Senator Hubert Humphrey. Tom received the first alternate appointment, took the entrance exams, and was notified that he was qualified, but the nominee who had the principal appointment was also qualified and would accept the appointment. Ultimately the Academic Board selected Tom from among the qualified alternates, and he was notified one week prior to the July 6 entry date. Tom accepted and flew to New York on July 5, 1954 with two other appointees, one of whom has his name on the Vietnam Memorial.
Tom entered West Point as a naive High School graduate, and soon learned that most of his classmates enjoyed accolades similar to his. But he persisted and quickly was identified as being among the best. As stated in the 1958 Howitzer, "Tom was one to depend on and to follow"; a reputation that was to follow him through his military service and into his civilian career. As a cadet athlete he earned his class numerals as a member of the plebe track team, and played on two intramural brigade championship basketball teams. As a first classman he was the Company I-2 Honor Representative.
For a good part of his cadet days Tom thought of being commissioned in the Air Force but the results of the commissioning physical were to decide otherwise. Because of his high class standing upon graduation he was commissioned in the Army Corps of Engineers. Tom served honorably in the Army Corps of Engineers for more than nine years, completing airborne and ranger training, and receiving his MS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and serving overseas in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, earning the Legion of Merit for his service in Vietnam.
It was while serving his utilization tour at Ellsworth, AFB in South Dakota that Tom met Catherine McGoldrick and they were married June 2, 1962. They had three children, TK, who graduated from the Air Force Academy; Wendy Sue, who graduated from Clarke College, and Brian, who attended Notre Dame on an NROTC scholarship.
Tom left the Army in 1967, returned to Minnetonka with his family, and began a successful career as a Professional Engineer. He was named the Young Engineer of the Year in 1970 by the Society of American Military Engineers. He served as the President of the Minnetonka Chapter of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers from 1974-1975, and was active in the American Society of Civil Engineers and The Structural Engineering Institute. In the 1980s he launched his own business as a consulting civil and structural engineer. He contributed to projects large and small in cities across the country: stadiums, skyscrapers, civic buildings, memorials, and universities. Tom and his family moved to Mesa, AZ, in the early 90's and truly enjoyed desert living.
Tom was a man of strong faith in God and lived out his life as a humble servant leader. He related to all people in a personal way with love and understanding. Along with his wife he was very active in his Catholic Church communities in a multitude of ways, serving where he was called and needed.
In a letter to the class scribe in July 1998 Tom related how he had a heart attack just a matter of days after returning from the class 40th reunion. He ended the note with the following advice to his classmates, "Look at your priorities and take care of the really important things in your life". This is truly the way Tom lived every day, whether in uniform or as a civilian.
A few years later Tom waxed philosophically in another note describing the relationship among West Point classmates as being like an extended family; a bonding he had come to appreciate more and more as he continued his journey through life. He went on to thank one of his Beast Barracks roommates, who in 2002 had helped his son Brian, a newly commissioned naval officer, get settled in when he was assigned to a course in Charleston, SC.
Tom was a lifelong athlete. He shared his love of sports, particularly golf, with his friends and family but his true passion was his family. A devoted husband and loving father, he was a wonderful example and formed special relationships with his children and grandchildren. He is loved and will be missed.
--Classmates
Thomas K. Smith
Prepared lovingly by Catherine Smith and the Smith Kids
Mesa - Thomas K. Smith, born February 7, 1936, Mankato, MN, age 84, of Mesa, AZ, passed away peacefully on August 3, 2020, at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents, Urban and Maxine Smith. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Catherine (McGoldrick), his son TK (Debbie), daughter Wendy Sue Early (Dave), son Brian, grandson Austin Thomas Smith (Samantha), granddaughter Taylor Marie Smith, grandson Nathaniel Thomas Early, granddaughter Isabella Grace Smith, and great-granddaughter Ruth Everett Laine Smith. He is also survived by his brother Jerome, and sisters Judith Dunlevy (Charlie) and Jane Parsons (Dave) and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family. Tom graduated from Minnetonka High School in 1954 and received an appointment from Senator Hubert Humphrey to the United States Military Academy (West Point). He graduated from West Point in 1958 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Tom served honorably in the US Army Corps of Engineers for more than nine years completing airborne and ranger training, and receiving his MS in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University. He served in Korea, Germany, and Vietnam, earning the Legion of Merit for his service in Vietnam. He returned to Minnetonka with his family and began a successful career as a Professional Engineer. Tom was named the Young Engineer of the Year in 1970 by the Society of American Military Engineers. He served as the President of the Minnetonka Chapter of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers from 1974-1975 and was active in the American Society of Civil Engineers and Structural Engineering Institute. In the 1980s he launched his own business as a consulting civil and structural engineer. He contributed to projects large and small in cities across the country: stadiums, skyscrapers, civic buildings, memorials, and universities. Tom and his family moved to Mesa, AZ, in the early 90's and truly enjoyed desert living. Tom was a man of strong faith in God and lived out his life as a humble servant leader. He related to all people in a personal way with love and understanding. Along with his wife he was very active in his Catholic Church communities in a multitude of ways, serving where he was called and needed. Tom was a lifelong athlete. He shared his love of sports, particularly golf (including twenty years as a part of the Arizona Outlaws), with his friends and family but his true passion was his family. A devoted husband and loving father, he was a wonderful example and formed special relationships with his children and grandchildren. He is loved and will be missed. Memorials in Tom's name can be made to the West Point Association of Graduates (westpointaog.org) or St Joseph the Worker (sjwjobs.org). A memorial service will be held at a future date. Arrangements entrusted to Queen of Heaven Catholic Funeral Home.
Published in The Arizona Republic from Aug. 10 to Aug. 12, 2020.