Spring 2010 (PDF) - Virginia Tech

WILLIAM H. RUFFNER MEDAL AWARD RECIPIENT
Garnett E. Smith is the recipient of the 2010 William H. Ruffner Medal, Virginia Tech’s highest
honor, in recognition of his loyal and enthusiastic support of the university.
Born and raised in Pulaski, Virginia, Mr. Smith’s professional career exemplifies the idea that
hard work and determination can help you to achieve any goal. After the death of his mother, he
began working at the early age of 13 bagging groceries at a local store. While in high school, he
worked afternoon, evening and weekend shifts at the local newspaper, taking breaks to return to
school for basketball practice.
With a good high school education in hand, Mr. Smith began his 43-year career at Advance
Auto, then known as Advance Store, an auto and home supply chain based in Roanoke. He was
promoted to Assistant Store Manager in 1962 and continued to move through the ranks. He was
named President and COO in 1985, and in 1997, became CEO of Advance Auto, the Roanoke Valley’s
only Fortune 500 Company. He retired in 2000 as Vice Chairman of the Board.
Mr. Smith’s career and life are built on the principle of giving recognition and guidance to
others. In 2001, he was named one of Roanoke’s 50 Most Influential People. He has served on
the W.E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center’s Board of Directors as an officer for 35 years,
is a former board member of United Way of Roanoke, and has held every office, including President,
in the Pulaski Jaycees. He has been involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the Taubman
Museum of Art, Goodwill Industries, Virginia Tech, the American Cancer Society, and is the 1998
recipient of the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Roanoke Valley, among numerous other awards.
At Virginia Tech, he has served on the Virginia Tech Foundation Board and as an invaluable
Garnett E. Smith
volunteer in various roles for The Campaign for Virginia Tech: Invent the Future. His generosity has benefited the W.E. Skelton 4-H
Educational Conference Center, athletics, University Libraries, Corps of Cadets, Equine Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine,
and the alumni and conference center. His contributions have targeted endowed scholarships, capital projects, and unrestricted support.
The Virginia Tech Smith Career Center is named for him and his wife, Patsy. He is a Golden Hokie, a Legacy Society member, and a
President’s Circle member of the Ut Prosim Society, the university’s most prestigious donor recognition society.
Mr. Smith resides in Moneta, Virginia, with his wife of 49 years, Patsy Thomas Smith. They enjoy golfing, boating, gardening, traveling,
and spending time with their daughter, Wendy, and son-in-law, Alexander Boone.
UNIVERSITY DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT
AWARD RECIPIENT
General Smith is a graduate of the Pamplin College of Business. He served as Commander of
the U.S. Joint Forces Command and as the NATO Supreme Allied Commander for Transformation
from November 2005 to November 2007. General Smith retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2008
after 38 years of service.
As commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command, General Smith was one of the nation’s
nine Combatant Commanders reporting directly to the Secretary of Defense and the President. He
led more than 1.19 million service members, civil servants, contract employees and consultants,
providing combat resources and training to America’s war efforts around the world. As Supreme
Allied Commander for Transformation, he worked to train NATO’s military forces and transform
their structures, capabilities, and doctrine to improve the military effectiveness of the Alliance,
most recently focused on the fight in Afghanistan. Prior to this job, General Smith was the Deputy
Commander of U.S. Central Command responsible for overseeing activities in the Middle East,
Horn of Africa, and Southwest Asia, including Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A native of Virginia and a graduate of Virginia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in business
management, General Smith received his commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force
in 1970. He also earned a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and attended the
Air Command and Staff College, the Army War College, and the Advanced Executive Program at
Northwestern University. He has more than 13 years in command during war and peace, ranging
from commanding two USAF fighter wings and two composite expeditionary wings in the Middle
East, to service as the 7th Air Force Commander and Air Component Commander for all Allied
air forces in South Korea. General Smith also was the Commander/President of the USAF Air
Lance L. Smith
War College, the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany, and the Air Force Doctrine Center.
As a command pilot, General Smith had more than 3,000 flight hours in a wide variety of fighter
aircraft and flew more than 150 combat missions in Vietnam, Laos, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He has earned 3 Silver Stars, 3 Distinguished
Flying Crosses, 10 Air Medals, and the Purple Heart.
General Smith currently serves on the executive committee of the VT Alumni Association, the executive board of the North Carolina
Military Foundation, and the board of directors for Rylex Consulting.
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