7
Introducing Our Vice President
R. M. Smith was born in Felido,
Washington, January 20, 1899. 'Hood,*
|is he is known to his many friends
throughout the state, attended grade
school at Felido until he was eleven.
At this time his family moved to St.
Johns, Oregon, and he became a web-
foot by adoption. After finishing grade
school and attending high school at St.
Johns, Hood rounded out his education
by attending college at Oregon State.
After three years in the U.S. Navy
during World War I ,he worked for
two years on logging road location and
construction and after that five years
with the Public Roads Administration
on various projects including the Mt.
Hood Loop highway, Glacier Park
Transmountain highway, Oregon Coast
highway, Rainier Park highway and
others.
With this backlog of experience he
started in September of 1930 for the
Oregon State Highway, first as transit-
man and later as inventory supervisor,
division office engineer, resident engi
neer and from 1941 on as District
Maintenance Superintendent.
In common with almost all of the
State Highway Engineering personnel,
Hood has been called upon to serve in
a considerable n u m b e r of places
throughout the state in connection with
various jobs. This constant changing
necessitated frequent changes in living
quarters and it seems appropriate that
credit be given to Mr. Smith’s wife
who, like the wives of a large percent
age of the State Highway Engineering
personnel, maintained a home for a
good many years under rather adverse
circumstances in many remote loca
tions.
Hood resides at Corvallis, with his
wife Edith and son Glen, who is at
tending Corvallis high. Another son,
Ted, is at present in the U.S. Navy.
I
R. M. Smith
Hood is extremely active both in
work and play and gives himself un-
stintingly to both. Whenever he can
find time from his official duties he
can usually be found with a fishing
rod or a gun as he is an ardent fisher
man and hunter.
A large amount of the credit for the
formation and growth of the Oregon
State Employees Association is due to
the time and effort given by Hood. He
has been very active throughout his dis
trict in obtaining members, was presi
dent of Albany Chapter No. 7, during
1945, and as our Vice President will
strengthen and stimulate the Associa
tion in the task of fulfilling its objec
tives.
You find yourself refreshed by the
presence of cheerful people. Why not
make earnest effort to confer that
pleasure on others? Half the battle is
gained if you never allow yourself to
say anything gloomy.—L. M. Child.