Although he may have served as mayor of Russellville longer than anyone else in the city’s history and also held two other elective positions, Ken Smith was much more than a career politician.
He was a career public servant.
Mr. Smith, whose long and gallant fight against cancer ended Aug. 1, worked to benefit the people of the city, county, state and nation in an assortment of capacities. Consider these capacities in which he spent countless hours working for his fellow man:
*. . . served in the Kentucky National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve for 32 years, including being called up along with many other Logan Countians during the Berlin Crisis, and retired as Lt. Colonel Smith;
*. . . was elected to a term as Logan County Coroner;
*. . . became a Russellville City Councilman in 1976 and served two consecutive terms in that role;
*. . . won four elections as mayor of Russellville, leading the city in that capacity 17 years;
*. . . returned to the council after sitting out two years;
*. . . worked as a lab technician at Logan County Hospital and Logan Memorial Hospital 38 years;
*. . . joined his late dad, A.C. Smith, and his brother, Algie Ray Smith, in owning and operating a business with ‘service’ in its name (Smith & Sons Service) for over half a century.
The word service and the name Ken Smith went hand-in-hand.
A graduate of Russellville High School where he had a good sports career, Ken Smith contributed to the success of Russellville football for many years by teaching fundamentals to his sons and nephews. His oldest son, the late Mike Smith, quarterbacked the first district championship team in eight years in 1978. Son number two, Randy Smith, was a starting halfback for Coach Ken Barrett’s first state championship team in 1980. His third son, Al Smith, was a standout lineman on the Panthers’ 1983 state championship squad and was an anchor of a school-record 24-game win streak through the state semifinals in 1984. Youngest son, Jon Ray Smith, was a solid lineman in the late 80s. Nephew Andy Woodall quarterbacked the ’83 state championship squad, considered by many as the best Panther team since the undefeated squad in 1950. Great nephews Zack Woodall and Morgan Collier had solid careers for the Logan County football team. His daughter, Frances Smith Keyes, was a Panther cheerleader.
One of Ken’s contributions to football was teaching the art of the long snap. The center on one of Russellville’s most surprising and over-achieving teams in the mid-50s, he worked with his relatives and other youngsters on hiking the ball to punters and placekickers. Their accuracy proved to be crucial in many big games for the Panthers.
In his book Through My Father’s Eyes: The Story of Logan County, Ed Coffman notes that Ken played basketball for Bethel College in Hopkinsville. Ken continued in athletics by becoming a long-distance runner. Many days he would work at the hospital and at the service station, spend time at the mayor’s office and then run several miles, all in a 24-hour span. He competed in everything from 3K to 5K to marathon races, including the Boston Marathon.
“Just wanted to let you know that my dad went Home last night to run more marathons with his Savior Jesus!,” Al Smith said in an email to The LoJo on Aug. 2.
The last time I saw Ken in public was when he presented the plaque to teammate Granville Taylor during his induction in the Russellville Alumni Club’s Athletic Hall of Fame this winter. His RHS coach, the late Harold Hunter, was also inducted that night. Ken was proud that he could still wear his gold R letter jacket almost 60 years after his playing days ended.
My family and the Smith family have been friends as long as I can remember. My dad, James Turner, kept bulk fuel in tanks on our farm, but if he ever bought gas away from home, it would be from the Smith station up the road. My uncle, Willie Mac Turner, and A.C. Smith were involved in several business relationships together. Algie Ray Smith taught my sons Clay and Trey in college English, and he befriends all of us weekly. Ken’s wife, the former Jonnie Evelyn Starks, and I grew up together in the same Bible classes at church. His son Mike was my accountant. Al and his wife Noel were instrumental in starting the Kentucky Wonders Garden Market along with Clay, Elaine and Lindsay. Mike’s wife Samra was the teacher who started giving Lindsay confidence in herself. I covered well over 100 meetings with Ken serving as mayor or on the council.
There were rough patches. At times I either had to cover controversies or lead a news staff that was reporting on unpleasantries. Through it all, Ken Smith never fussed at me and never seemed to hold a grudge. I admired and appreciated that.
During his time as mayor, he administered Russellville’s entry into legalized sale of alcoholic beverages for the first time in over four decades, oversaw the expansion of city hall, personally made sure the public ambulance service stayed in operation during perilous times by moving it to city hall, helped in the formation of Main Street Russellville, expanded the parks and recreation department dramatically, and saw his dream of a public fitness facility with a swimming pool become a reality with the construction of the Carpenter Center.
Ken put much of the energy that he had used in his other public service endeavors into Christian service in his latter years. He was known to attend services at multiple churches some Sundays. Sometimes he would be the speaker himself. He helped small churches get started and grow into congregations. Often he helped the needy and was the friend long-time councilman Willie Hampton needed in tough times before his death. He was a key contributor to Russellville’s success in racial harmony.
“When Ken Smith was defeated as after serving seventeen years as mayor of Russellville, he said he wanted to be remembered as someone who treated everyone—employees and citizens—the same, regardless of their social status, religion or nationality,” Ed Coffman wrote in his history of Logan County. “Ken gave Russellville able leadership while being employed full-time by Logan Memorial Hospital, serving as a Lt. Colonel in the Army Reserve, and operating the BP station with his brother.”
Current Russellville mayor Mark Stratton wrote a tribute to the former mayor and read it to the council the week of Mr. Smith’s funeral. It read, “We are deeply saddened by the death of former Mayor Ken Smith. Ken served the citizens of Russellville as Mayor from 1982 until 1998. Prior to being elected mayor, he served on the Russellville City Council from Oct. 1976 until December 1981 and then again in 2001 and 2002.
“Ken treated the citizens of Russellville with dignity and respect. He always had a word of faith and encouragement for those around him and in need. His passing put sadness in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. Our prayers go out to Ken Smith’s family and friends.
“Russellville City Hall Administrative offices will be closed Friday from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. to allow employees to pay their respects.”
The names of council members Jimmy Davenport, Pat Bell, Sandra Kinser, Jack Whipple, Bill Decker and Darlene Gooch along with City Attorney Neil Kerr were attached.
Others commented on the passing of Ken Smith as follows:
June Robinson: I knew Ken all of my life, but it was the Jones for Governor campaign that made us good friends. We co-chaired the campaign and it operated seamlessly. Each of us had different strengths, and it worked quite well, resulting in a big victory.
“Throughout the years, Ken was always there for me when I was devastated by the loss of loved ones. Our talks always made me feel better. Once, I had an absurdly unfair thing happen, and Ken encouraged me and gave me some very good advice.
“I hadn't seen him often in the last few years, but I was aware of his battles with cancer, and how he beat it down and came back strong many times. He was always an inspiration to me.
“I saw Ken as a gentle soul, always the same, and with an optimistic outlook. But there was fire in that gentle soul. In addition to kicking cancer's butt multiple times, he managed to work full-time at the hospital and serve as the Mayor at the same time. I was Summer Youth coordinator one summer, and my office was in back of the Mayor's office. I observed everyone working together in harmony, and Ken was always having birthday parties for employees. I had many enjoyable days, kidding with the "silly hall girls", and they still hold a fond place in my heart.
“I know that Jonnie and their sons and daughter will miss him immensely, and my heart goes out to them. I already miss his presence in my life. I know Ken was a man of faith, and we can find comfort, knowing that he is with the Lord today.
“May God bless and comfort his family. Rest in Peace, my friend.
James Henry Duncan: Ken Smith and I were very good friends in high school, on the football field and baseball diamond. He was a very good sportsman and hard worker. His deceased sister Eva and I were also in high school together and good friends. Ken’s brother Algie Ray has captured many of the Smith family’s activities in and around Russellville in Ray’s many books. He has interesting references to his big brother Ken in many of his stories. Ken and I followed similar careers as Lt. Colonels in the U.S. Army Reserve program. Ken Smith was a devoted National Guardsman and had high regard for his fellow soldiers.
Bob Gregory: Ken Smith was a good man. He always demonstrated the same level of emotions. and I do not believe I ever saw him upset; firm but not upset. He was and always will be one of my dear friends. I loved his mother, father and his siblings. In the "olden days" we would wrap a bone from the butcher shop in Christmas wrapping paper and deliver it to Pappy Smiths bird-dog at Smith's Gulf Station in East Russellville. My what fond memories! Our prayers of support go out to the family.
Jim Humphrey: I thought it would be easy to write a few of my memories of Ken Smith, but after multiple starts I am still struggling to find the right words to describe such a remarkable man. Being the same age and a classmate of his brother Algie Ray, I spent a lot of time in the Smith household. I remember when the three of us would stay out way past curfew we would sneak in the back window to their bedroom. We surely did not want to endure the wrath of their grandmother for being out too late. On top of that she would feed us a BIG breakfast the next morning. Sometimes I think she knew more than she let us know, so maybe we weren’t fooling her after all.
Since he was two years older than me or Algie Ray, we were always hitching a ride with Ken but I won’t go into detail on some of our escapades. I’ll leave that to Algie Ray in one of his future books.
Though I had no appreciation during the days of our youth, later in life I came to esteem him highly for his impeccable character and devotion to family, friends and community. I don’t remember ever being a witness to Ken being anything but a kind and giving individual.
There was a period of a few years when we were both assigned to National Guard Headquarters in Frankfort and would ride together to and from our duty assignments. Ken was a highly respected and talented Army officer and I enjoyed our time serving together.
I remember seeing him during the Tobacco Festival in 2011 when the members of the local Guard unit were honored for their service during the 1961 Berlin Crisis. We enjoyed a long visit and he seemed to be doing well at that time. The last time we talked was in March, and it was apparent that his health was slowly fading. Though we didn’t see each other often, I feel a deep sense of loss as I reflect on the friendship we share since the days of our youth.