- Date Of Birth: August 22, 1947
- Date Of Death: January 31, 2022
- State: Arkansas
Tony Smith of Ashdown, AR died unexpectedly on Monday, January 31st, 2022 at the age of 74 surrounded by his family.
Tony was born, August 22, 1947 in Nashville, AR to Otha E. Smith and Hazel Bullington Smith. Tony grew up in the community of Okay, AR and was a member of the Saratoga High School class of 1965 where he excelled in basketball and track. Tony Graduated from the Nashville Diesel Academy in Nashville, TN where he learned to be a diesel engine mechanic.
After 4 years at Southern Cement, Tony accepted a position as the Service Manager for Texarkana Truck Center, which he held for the next 17 years, it was while there he founded Southern Refrigerated Transport, Inc. (SRT), where he would remain for the next 30 years until his retirement in 2016. Under Tony’s leadership, he and his team built SRT into one of the largest temperature-controlled trucking companies in North America employing over 1500 people at its pinnacle. Tony had a reputation for being tough but fair and those who got to know him saw that underneath his “tough” exterior was a heart as big as his personality. While he was never accused of being the most patient man, he genuinely cared about people and when asked what he contributed his company’s success to he was quick to say “just always do what is right”.
He cherished his family and was a lifelong, avid outdoorsman.
Tony was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Terry.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathy SIllavan Smith of Ashdown, one daughter and son-in-law, Toinette and Lou Tretter of Little Rock, one son and daughter-in-law, Justin and Jenni Smith of Ashdown, one granddaughter Lillie Tretter , 3 grandsons, Ethan Smith, Grant Tretter, and Hudson Smith, and one nephew Bryan Smith and wife Emily.
