1924 - 2009
Richard Derby Smith died May 16, 2009, in Fort Collins. He was 84.
He was born Oct. 24, 1924, in St. Louis. Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and served three years in the armored division. After returning to the states, he enrolled at Washington University in St. Louis. He graduated with a degree in accounting and business.
He married the former Anne Sanford in 1950. While in St. Louis, he worked for Ralston Purina. In 1956, the family moved to Clearwater, Fla., where he worked for Goodbody and Co. as a stockbroker. In 1960, the brokerage company of Francis I. DuPont opened an office in Clearwater and hired Richard as manager. Later, he and another investor purchased Deerwood Ranch in Laramie, Wyo. During this time, he worked with Colorado State University's agriculture school, conducting several research programs with them.
After selling the ranch in 1982, he and his wife returned to Clearwater. In 1995, the family moved to Steamboat Springs, where he was an avid hiker, tennis player and volunteer at the hospital.
Among his many accomplishments were commodore of Carlouel Yacht Club, skipper of the Privateers Club, and president of the Hunter Blood Center Foundation.
It was while he was at Hunter Center that he formed the Blue Blood Society for blood donors. In order to thank them, he put on several benefits at Ruth Eckerd Hall by holding concerts headed by country Western singers. Among the performers were Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin brothers and Lee Greenwood.
Richard was preceded in death by his daughter, Helen Marty Smith, and is survived by his devoted wife, Anne, and several nieces and nephews.
Donations may be made to Steamboat Springs United Methodist Church, directed to the Youth Program, P.O. Box 773748, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477; or to Isaiahs Inn, Inc., 314 South Lincoln Ave., Clearwater, FL 33456.
