Remembrances
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From Guy Fusco: I was saddened to see the In Memoriam for Mickey Smith. Mickey was my very first supervisor at Chemical Bank nearly 41 years ago, and while he left shortly after hiring me, I'll never forget the encouragement he provided in teaching this Accounting major how to program and automate reporting. That desire to learn and not be afraid of new things has stuck with me throughout my career.
From Bridget-Anne Hampden: I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Mickey Smith. I worked for him at Chemical Bank in the 1970s, and he was instrumental in instilling in me work habits that helped to shape my career.
He was a patient teacher–one who lived by the motto “do unto others as you would like done to you”. He taught me how to tell a financial story using the numbers. I extend my deepest sympathy to his family.
In Memoriam:
Leon "Mickey" Smith, 81
Leon "Mickey" Raymond Smith, 81, who worked at Chemical Bank for 17 years, died at home in The Woodlands,Texas–near Houston–on April 6, 2018.
Born October 18, 1936 in Long Island City, NY, he spent his youth doing everything from setting bowling pins to working in grocery stores to earn money to keep his Whizzer Motorbike running. After graduating from Woodrow Wilson High in Dallas, he attended several different universities, including SMU, Texas Tech and Baylor. In 1959 he decided to follow his ROTC roots and joined the U.S. Army. He served in Japan as a Morse code interceptor and enjoyed exploring that country on a motorcycle. After his discharge, he attended North Texas State University in Denton, TX, to finish his degree.
Mr. Smith worked for GSI and LTV in the Dallas area before switching career paths and becoming a banker in New York City. He moved the family to New York in 1971 to work at Chemical Bank, where he took pride in pioneering the practice of Ad Hoc reporting using data analyzation.
Never losing his love for Texas, he managed to get a transfer to Texas Commerce Bank in 1988. He happily retired from the Bank in 1995 to pursue what he felt really mattered in life; his faith, his grandchildren and square dancing with his wife. He and his wife served a term as presidents of the Texas State Federation of Square and Round Dancers.
He is survived by his spouse, Dianne Brabham Smith, a son and daughter, and four grandchildren.