Dr. W. Russell Smith
Physician, Surgeon, & Community Leader
Dr. W. Russell Smith devoted more than four decades of his life to caring for the people of Carthage and strengthening the community he called home.
Born April 7, 1912, near Mount Ida, Arkansas, Smith graduated Salutatorian at age 14 from Benton High School before earning an associate’s degree from Hendrix College. He continued his education at the University of Missouri and, at just 17 years old, entered Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. At age 21, he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree, graduating 10th in his class. He completed an internship at McGill University (Royal Victoria Hospital) in Montreal, Canada, and returned to St. Louis for a surgical residency at Barnes Hospital.
In 1937, Dr. Smith came to Carthage and established a practice in general medicine and surgery. For more than 46 years, he provided medical care to generations of Carthage-area residents and served on the medical staff of McCune-Brooks Hospital. He was a member of the Jasper County Medical Society and a Life Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
His commitment to service extended beyond his medical practice. Dr. Smith was called into military service in 1940, serving as a first lieutenant in the Medical Reserve Corps. From 1942 through 1973, he also served as a physician for the Selective Service Board.
Dr. Smith believed strongly in giving back to the community. A longtime member of the Carthage Rotary Club beginning in 1945, he served on numerous local boards and organizations, including the Carthage Board of Education, American Cancer Society, Mo-Kan Area Boy Scouts, First United Methodist Church, United Way, Missouri Southern International Piano Competition and March of Dimes. He was known for his willingness to lend his time, leadership and expertise wherever they were needed.
His connection to Carthage was also deeply personal. One of his first patients after arriving in the community was Betty Maxine Redmond. The two married in 1939 and remained together for more than 62 years. Together, they raised four children: William R. “Bill” Smith, Steven D. Smith and his wife, Lora, Susan Smith Haskell, and Vicki J. Smith and her husband, Dr. Claude Burgoyne.
Dr. Smith retired after a distinguished career in medicine but remained active and engaged in life and in the community. He enjoyed golf, sailing, traveling, and spending time playing cards with friends.
Dr. Smith died July 27, 2010, at the age of 98. His legacy is reflected not only in the countless patients he cared for, but also in the organizations he supported and the community he served for more than seven decades.
Through his profession, military service, and civic involvement, Dr. Smith exemplified a lifetime of service to Carthage and its people.
