Gorman Curtis Smith

West Point, 1951

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Jose Andres "Andy" Chacon on November 14, 2004:

Major General Gorman C. Smith, USAR (Ret.) Born September 24, 1928? Died August 25, 1988 Major General Gorman Curtis Smith, USAR-Ret., former Federal Energy Administration and Atomic Energy Commission official, and Energy industry executive, died on 25 August 1998 at the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home in Southern Maryland. He had Alzheimer's Disease. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy (1951) and of Columbia University with an MA and PhD in Economics. General Smith's active Army career began upon being commissioned in the Infantry in 1951. In April 1953 in Korea, his leadership, planning and personal actions provided major contributions to the successful outcome of the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. In 1956, after graduate school, he was assigned as Asst. Professor of Economics to the Dept of Social Studies at USMA. Later he received his PhD. and graduated from the Army's Command and Staff College. Subsequent assignments included battalion commander of the 2nd Bn, 504th Abn. Inf. Regt of the 82nd Abn. Div. which became engaged in contingency operations in the Dominican Republic and reassignment to the Office of the Asst Sec of Def (M&RA). In 1969 he resigned his commission in the Army to enter the business world, but he continued his service as a Col, US Army Reserve. Subsequent military assignments included Dep Cmdr US Reserve Command, Fort Meade, Commander 220th Mil Police Brigade, Dep Dir, Office of Deputy Chief of Staff Personnel HQ, Dept of the Army and DCG (Mobilization Designee) of HQ TRADOC. He retired as Major General, US Army Reserve, on 30 Sep 1988. Combat awards and decorations included the Silver Star, 2 Bronze Star Medals with Valor and 2 Purple Hearts. His civilian pursuits included Dir and VP of Information Concepts; Exec Asst to the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission; Asst Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration (during the Ford Administration). In 1977 he joined Transco Energy Co. in Houston as VP corporate planning and was appointed Pres & CEO for Transco Coal Gas Co, and Pres, Transco Synfuels Co. and Transco Peat Methanol Co. In 1985, Mr. Smith returned to Washington to become Exec Dir of the US Energy. Survivors include his wife of 27 years, the former Mary James Weathersbee; two children from his first marriage to Catherine Sirmeyer: Glen A. Smith of Houston and Sharon Polifrone of Elburn, IL; a step-son H.B. Weathersbee, Jr. and three step-grandchildren of Sumter, S.C. Two brothers: Shofner Smith of Oklahoma City and Maj Gen (Ret) Foster Lee Smith of Alexandria, VA also survive him. Mary Smith resides in Cabin John, MD. Jac; 18052

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