[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 112 (Wednesday, July 31, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6105-S6106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   REMEMBERING DR. JOHN M. SMITH JR.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to an honored 
Kentuckian who, sadly, has been lost to us after a long and fruitful 
life. The man I speak of is Dr. John M. Smith Jr. of Beattyville, KY. 
Born in Hazard, KY, in 1922, he passed away on June 15 of this year. He 
was 91 years old.
  Dr. Smith was revered in his community as a man of medicine. In the 
1940s, he was one of the first recipients of the Rural Kentucky Medical 
Scholarship Fund, and graduated from the University of Louisville 
School of Medicine in 1949. He has worked in Morehead, Lexington, 
Woodford County, and most of all in Beattyville, where he served as a 
general practitioner for 38 years until the age of 90. Generations of 
Beattyville-area Kentuckians knew and loved Dr. Smith as their primary-
care doctor.

[[Page S6106]]

  Dr. Smith also proudly served his country in both World War II and 
the Korean War. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in 
both the Atlantic and Pacific campaigns of World War II. He then 
volunteered to serve as a medical officer at the Louisville, KY, 
recruiting station during the Korean War.
  Dr. Smith received many accolades and recognitions from his 
community, and will be missed by a great many beloved family members 
and friends, including his wife of 54 years, Patty. Elaine and I send 
our thoughts and prayers to the Smith family for their loss. And I know 
my colleagues in this U.S. Senate join me in recognizing the long and 
accomplished life of service led by Dr. John M. Smith Jr.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the obituary for Dr. 
Smith that appeared in the Lexington Herald-Leader be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the obituary was ordered to appear as 
follows:

           [From the Lexington Herald-Leader, June 18, 2013]

                          John Smith: Obituary

       Beattyville.--Dr. John M. Smith, Jr., 91, of Beattyville, 
     KY, the son of John M. and Treva Smith, was born April 9th, 
     1922, in Hazard, KY, and passed away June 15th, 2013. He was 
     a practicing physician for 61 years. He was one of the first 
     graduates from Caney Creek College, now known as Alice Lloyd 
     College in Pippa Passes, KY. After graduating from the 
     University of Kentucky, Phi Beta Kappa, in 1942, he enlisted 
     in the United States Navy and served as a first lieutenant 
     aboard the U.S.S. Weeden, serving in both the Atlantic and 
     Pacific campaigns of World War II.
       Upon his honorable discharge, he was selected as one of the 
     first recipients of the Rural Kentucky Medical Scholarship 
     Fund, and entered and graduated from the University of 
     Louisville School of Medicine in 1949. Following his medical 
     internship, he extended his service to our country by 
     volunteering for the Korean War, serving as a medical officer 
     at the Louisville, KY, recruiting station. At the time of his 
     discharge on July 6th, 1951, he opened his first medical 
     practice 10 days later in Beattyville, KY. In 1962, he left 
     Beattyville temporarily to practice in the field of radiology 
     working at Morehead Hospital, Woodford County Hospital, and 
     the Lexington Clinic. In June 1974, he returned to 
     Beattyville as a general practitioner--his true love and 
     passion--faithfully serving the patients he loved for the 
     next 38 years until the age of 90.
       He was a member of the Masonic Proctor Lodge 213 and the 
     Lee County Shrine Club, VFW Post 11296, and the Kentucky 
     Medical Association. He served as the Medical Director of the 
     Lee County Constant Care and Geri Young House and a member of 
     the Lee County Board of Health. Dr. Smith is survived by his 
     wife, Patty, of 54 years; sons John S. (Vivian) of 
     Beattyville, KY, Robert of Versailles, KY, William (Kim) of 
     Arlington, VA, Sparkman, Daniel (Jo, Martha), Giletta, and 
     John A., all of Lexington, KY; one brother, Luther 
     (Rosemary), Beattyville, KY; two sisters, Janet (Glenn) 
     Moore, Scottsburg, IN, and Joan Tilford, Falls of Rough, KY; 
     17 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
       Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19th from 6 to 8 p.m. 
     and Thursday, June 20th from 10 to 11 a.m. at Saint Thomas 
     Episcopal Church in Beattyville. Funeral services will be 
     Thursday, June 20th at 11 a.m. also at Saint Thomas Episcopal 
     Church with The Reverend Bryant Kibler officiating. Burial 
     will follow at the Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, KY.

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