Neil Russell Smart, 94, retired Brigadier General of the U.S. Army and retired director, Veterans Administration Regional Office, died of heart failure Friday, May 16, 2008 in Montgomery.
He was born March 29, 1914 in Brainerd, Minn., the son of John Franklin and Myrtle Gates Smart. He moved September of 1915 with his parents to a small farm in Baldwin County, located on Fish River, three miles west of Silverhill on Highway 104, now named John Franklin Smart Memorial Highway in honor of his father, who was instrumental in the construction of the original road between Fairhope and Robertsdale.
It is still the lifelong residence of his brother Franklin and wife Mildred.
Smart graduated from Robertsdale High School in 1930 and was the youngest in his class, that included his brother, Donald V. Smart.
Growing up, he dreamed of serving his country and serving veterans, which he did with a lifetime of service to both. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1938 where he served as Cadet ROTC Battalion Commander. He entered Army service as a second lieutenant at Fort McClellan 29th Infantry from 1940 to 1946 with total European Theater service of 27 consecutive months with four Battle Campaign Stars including Normandy, Battle of the Bulge, Central Europe and Rhineland. Smart served as Regimental Executive Officer at Supreme Headquarters Allied European Forces from May to September 1945.
He returned to Fort Benning, Ga., continuing with Army National Guard service from 1947 to 1971 retiring as Brigadier General. He served as assistant director of the Veterans Administration Regional Office from 1948 to 1957 and as regional director from 1958 to 1974.
He firmly believed in caring for veterans throughout his 29-year VARO career. He continued to provide service to others through the International Executive Service Corps as management consultant to Chein Hsin Rehabilitation Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, from 1974 to 1987.
Community service included chair positions with American Red Cross, Federal Executive Association, National Alliance of Businessmen, Optimist Club, Retired Officers Association, United Way, American Legion, American Veterans, Disabled American and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Anne Nipper Smart; two sons, Neil (Nan) Smart Jr. and David (Anna) Smart; three grandchildren, Leslie Smart (Chip) Whitley, David (Jennifer) Smart Jr., and Hunter (Joni) Smart; two great-grandchildren; brother, Franklin (Mildred) Smart of Silverhill; many nieces and nephews through Baldwin County and the United States.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 20 at First Baptist Church of Montgomery. Graveside services with full military honors followed at Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery.
