[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E454-E455]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF FRANKLIN G. SMITH, THE FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CHAMIZAL 
                           NATIONAL MEMORIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2001

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a great American. 
Mr. Franklin G. Smith passed away Wednesday, March 14, 2001 in El Paso, 
Texas. He has been a resident of El Paso since 1971. Mr. Smith was born 
in Pueblo, Colorado. He attended Pueblo Junior College, obtained his 
Bachelor's Degree from the University of Arizona, and performed 
graduate work at the University of Arizona. He served with honor in the 
United States Army from 1944-1946. I would like to express my heartfelt 
sorrow to his lovely wife, Mary Pauline Smith of El Paso, and his 
daughter Alison Diane Olson and grand daughter Amber Marie Olson.
  Mr. Smith was a 42-year veteran of the National Park Service and was 
the first superintendent of the Chamizal National Memorial in my 
district. He had a distinguished career which began in 1948 as a 
Seasonal Park Archeologist at Mesa Verde. From there he worked as a 
Seasonal Park Naturalist for four summers at the Grand Canyon; 
Tumacacori National Monument, Arizona; and Carlsbad Caverns National 
Park in New Mexico. He then served as an Assistant to the Chief of 
Archeology here in Washington and as a Regional Museum Curator in the 
Southwest Regional Office in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mr. Smith also 
served as the Superintendent of Fort Davis National Historic Site in 
Ft. Davis, Texas and, finally, as the Superintendent of Chamizal 
National Memorial until 1990. He was awarded the Department of Interior 
Distinguished Service Award for 40 years of service.
  Mr. Smith was a great lover of history, music, and museums and was 
responsible for the development of the nationally recognized Border 
Folk Festival and the Siglo del Oro Spanish Drama Festival that takes 
place at the Chamizal National Memorial every year.
  Mr. Smith was a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians, 
corresponding member of the Hispanic Society of America, member of the 
American Association of Museums and a member of the El Paso County 
Historical Society (where he received a distinguished service award). 
He was a respected military historian and loved nothing better than to 
perform military music for others.
  Mr. Smith possessed a true love of nature, culture and history and 
devoted the majority of his life to the preservation, protection and 
interpretation of our national heritage. He was a symbol of the mission 
of the National Park Service and influenced, guided, educated and 
inspired countless numbers of students to become National Park Service 
rangers.

[[Page E455]]

  His true love was his beautiful wife, Mary Pauline whom he met while 
working at the Grand Canyon in Arizona. I want to again express my 
sincere sympathy for her loss. We will truly miss the first 
Superintendent of the Chamizal National Memorial, Mr. Franklin G. 
Smith.

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