The Larry Smith Invitational Rook Tournament
Larry Smith (1920-1995): The Early Years

Introduction

Part of our purpose in staging an annual Rook Tournament is to honor the memory of Larry Smith. Many of our participants know little about Larry, since he passed away in 1995. And even those of us who knew him only in his later years might not know much about his life before he moved to Atlanta. In this section, Paula Hovater provides us a brief sketch of her father's life.

Birth

Larry Columbus Smith was born in Emboden, Arkansas, on Sunday, December 19, 1920, to Arthur Lee and Ida Jane Parsons Smith. He was the 8th of 13 brothers and sisters. When he was 3 years old, his family moved to the rural community of Belgreen, Alabama, population 200. His father owned the sawmill, cotton gin and general store.

Larry was an avid sportsman, was quite a marksman and was an excellent student as well. He was very popular in school.

United States Depression

Growing up in rural Alabama was tough, especially during the depression. At age 16, Larry had to drop out of high school in order to help his ill father with the family businesses.

On August 30, 1941, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Masel Cathleen Cooper. The story has been told that after he paid the preacher, he had $12 in his pocket. Larry and Masel assumed the responsibility of caring for an invalid father and two younger siblings. The Smith family moved to nearby Russellville, so Larry could take a higher paying job at Alabama Flour Company as a truck driver.

World War II

Larry was granted a deferment from serving in the war because his first daughter, Sandra June, was born in 1942. As a result of the war, there was a shortage of factory workers. Leaving his wife, baby and other family members in Russellville, Larry took a temporary position at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio, in order to generate more income.

On October 14, 1944, Larry was drafted by the United States Army to serve in the European Theatre. He became a rifleman in the army ground forces and drove trucks transporting military personnel.

During his army career, he was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with a bronze star, the World War II Victory medal, the Army Occupation of Germany medal, the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct medal. He qualified as a sharpshooter and a second class heavy machine operator.