[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 12519]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             PAYING TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN ROBERT ``HAL'' SMITH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JON. C. PORTER

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2006

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor CAPT Robert Hallock 
Smith, a dear friend of mine, for his outstanding service to the United 
States and memorable impact on the State of Nevada, the city of 
Henderson, and the Southern Nevada Community. Hal passed away on 
Monday, June 19, 2006 at the age of 89.
  Hal was born in Mitchell, South Dakota on February 9, 1917. Shortly 
thereafter, his family moved to Ellensburg, Washington. Upon graduation 
from high school, he moved to Southern California to attend Pasadena 
City College and The California Institute of Technology, earning a 
degree in aeronautical engineering. He later attended La Salle 
University and the Naval War College, taking courses in command 
training and international political science.
  In the late 1930's, Hal was commissioned as a pilot in the U.S. Navy, 
and served in active duty in World War II and the Korean War as a 
division officer on the aircraft carrier USS Leyte. Hal worked at the 
Lake Mead Naval Base and retired as a Navy Captain. He then worked as a 
partner and manager of Henderson Builders' Supply for 10 years, and was 
Vice-President for Nevada operations of Prudential Securities/Burrows 
Smith Division. Hal served on many active service positions including 
the Henderson Charter Commission, Civil Service Board, Western States 
Water Council, Clark County Bond Commission, Nevada Ethics Commission, 
and Nevada State Board of Education. In 1966, Hal was elected to the 
Nevada State Assembly, serving two terms, and served in the Nevada 
State Senate from 1988 to 1994. During this time Hal was a member of 
Rotary Club International, Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Veterans of Foreign 
Wars, and the American Legion. As a capstone to Hal's career, the Clark 
County School District honored him by naming a school after him, the 
Hal Smith Elementary School.
  Hal's greatest accomplishment in life was his family. On June 1, 
1940, Hal married his love Tina. Together they had three children: 
Victoria who married Colin Holman; Peter who married Marilyn Mendive; 
and Christy, who married John Winlow. They also have nine 
grandchildren, Danny, Marc, Erin, Christian, Derek, Amanda, Hal, Katie, 
and Whitney, and ten great-grandchildren, Isaiah, Danielle, McKenzie, 
Thomas, Ava, Benjamin, Maia, Grantham, Delaney, and Alexander.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize CAPT Robert Hallock Smith on 
the floor of the House. My friend Hal served his family, Southern 
Nevada, and the United States of America with honor, and he will be 
greatly missed.

                          ____________________