Mike Ovie Smith Jr. was born on November 4, 1923, in Blanket, Brown County, Texas. He was the son of Mike Ovie Smith Sr. and Helen Gould Ratto Smith. He was married to Beulah Fae White Smith. He graduated from Williams High School and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University. He served in the United States Army with the 740th Tank Battalion in World War II. Known as the “Daredevil Tankers”, the 740th was a separate battalion that fought from Utah Beach all the way to the Baltic Sea in support of various divisions of the US war effort.

Smith was discharged from the service with the rank of First Sergeant. A registered professional engineer, he became an early innovator in hydraulic fracturing and worked for Mobil Oil Company, Cardinal Chemical Inc., Dresser Titan, and BJ Hughes before later serving as an independent consultant throughout a career spanning more than four decades in the Permian Basin. He was an active member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church and participated in numerous professional, civic, and community organizations, including the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Toastmasters International, and the Midland Petroleum Club Wildcatters. He also supported several cultural and charitable events throughout the Permian Basin area. He died on August 10, 2012, and is now buried in the Sunset Memorial Gardens, Odessa, Ector County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com