WBJ: William C. Smith founder dies at 86

Washington Business Journal - by Jonathan O'Connell Staff Reporter

William C. Smith Sr., founder of the D.C.-based real estate development and management company that bears his name, died March 15. He was 86.

Following service with the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, Smith returned to his native Washington to work as a property manager for Frank S. Phillips Inc. In 1968, he set out on his own to found William C. Smith & Co. in a small office at 927 15th St. NW. He had three employees.

Forty years later, the company has developed and built properties throughout the city, manages more than 12,000 residential units and has hundreds of employees. No company has played a larger role in redevelopment of D.C. neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River in the past decade, including the company’s construction and charitable contributions to the education and arts facility in Congress Heights, The Town Hall Education, Arts & Recreation Campus (Thearc).

“He was an honorable and principled man who set high standards for the conduct of his business,” said a statement released by the company. “Many an agreement was made with a handshake, and his handshake was his word. Those standards guide the company as core values today.”

Smith was an avid baseball fan who competed nationally in softball and was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2007. Some highlights from his play on the senior softball circuit: “A memorable play occurred at the 1998 world series in Illinois when the go-ahead run in the bottom of the last inning was on second; lefty Bill Smith saw the outfield pull to the right and lined the ball where he loved to hit it best — down the third base line. His double won the tournament. He pitched his last game at age 82 when a line drive broke his forearm. He threw the batter out.”

Smith stepped down from daily operating duties a few years ago, but remained active in the company. One of his four surviving children, Chris Smith, serves as chief executive officer.

Smith’s family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. March 19 at DeVol Funeral Home, 222 Wisconsin Ave. NW. A burial will be held at 11:30 a.m. March 20 at Our Lady of Victory Church, 4835 MacArthur Blvd. NW.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the William C. Smith Fund at Thearc, courtesy of Janet Stone, Building Bridges Across the River, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE, Washington, D.C., 20020.