Roll Call Tribute

W. Hiram Smith, Jr. 

May 9, 1928 - December 10, 2024 

William Hiram Smith, 96, of De Leon, passed peacefully from this life on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in Ft. Worth, Texas. William Hiram Smith, Jr., was born May 9, 1928, to William Hiram Smith, Sr., and Mamie Pearl Daniell Smith in De Leon. He was raised in De Leon and graduated with the De Leon Class of 1945.

By the time Hiram was twenty-three years old, he had graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor’s Degree in economics and had earned an MBA in Retail from the University of Texas. He served as both a page and a secretary at the Texas legislature, which convinced him that he never wanted to run for political office. After college, Hiram met his future wife Dale Randals, who had dated his college roommate a handful of times.

On June 1, 1952, Hiram married Dale. By July 1, 1952, Hiram was on active duty as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He and Dale moved to Williamsburg, Virginia, where Hiram served at Fort Eustace. He and Dale were together for 13 months before Hiram received orders sending him to Pusan, Korea.

After completion of his time in Korea, Hiram and Dale moved back to De Leon where they would raise their family and operate the family businesses. Hiram owned and operated W.H. Smith Department Store and W.H. Smith Fruit Farm which he sold in 1985. Hiram served as President of the Texas Fruit Growers Association.

He was a three-term member of the board of directors at the hospital district and served as the president of the De Leon ISD Board of Trustees. Hiram received the first De Leon Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award, and later the Lifetime Achievement award from the same organization. Hiram served as a member of the Farmers and Merchants Bank Board of Directors for over 60 years. He also taught G.I. School for five years at the old high school building, a program designed to provide education for veterans returning home from service.

Hiram applied the same commitment of time and service to every facet of the United Methodist Church that he did to his community. As a devoted member of First UMC of De Leon, he served faithfully as stewardship chair, finance committee, and Administrative Council Member. Respected as a leader in the Central Texas Annual Conference, as well as the general Church, he served as delegate to General Conference four times and to Jurisdictional Conference five times. He also served on the Mission Committee; World Methodist Council; Mission Council; General Commission, Archives and History; as chair of the Rules and Structure Committee in the South Central Jurisdiction; chair of the Board of Pensions; and Vice President of the Central Texas Methodist Foundation. Hiram was also a longtime Sunday School teacher at both First United Methodist Church and before that, First Baptist Church. In 2016, he received the Texas Methodist Foundation’s Medallion of Merit, the organization’s highest honor.

A few lessons learned throughout his life journey that Hiram shared with family and many friends were: “Love is the interest in another’s happiness above your own” and “We should all try to be more Christ-like, and care for others before ourselves.”

He leaves behind a loving legacy in his family. He is survived by his daughters, Allison Fogle and husband, Douglas; and Meridith Albright and husband, Keith; his son, Byron R. Smith, and partner, Juan Martinez; grandson, Todd C. Fogle and wife, Christina; granddaughter-in-law, Chelsea Fogle and Andrew Zetts, great-grandchildren, Barrett Fogle, Evelyn Fogle, Townsend Fogle, Everess Zetts and Drew Zetts; niece, Cathy Berger; other extended family; and many loving friends. Hiram has been reunited with his wife, Dale Smith; parents, William Hiram Smith, Sr. and Mamie Smith; sister, Marylene Stanley; niece, Leslie Stanley-Stevens; nephew, Henry Stanley; and grandson, Ryan B. Fogle.

A celebration of Hiram's life was held Friday, December 13, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at De Leon First United Methodist Church with Pastor Kaiya Kershaw, Pastor John Woodard, and Pastor Chris Mesa officiating. Hiram was interred in De Leon cemetery in a private family committal.