William Ernest Smith Explained

William Ernest Smith
Order:15th
Office:Mayor of Murray, Utah
Birth Date:1 July 1890
Residence:Murray, Utah
Term Start:01 January 1946
Term End:01 January 1948
Predecessor:J. Clifford Hansen
Successor:J. Clifford Hansen
Spouse:Martha H. Fillmore (1913–1972; died)
Death Place:Salt Lake City, Utah

William Ernest "Ernie" Smith served one term as mayor of Murray, Utah from 1946-1947.[1] He preferred to be known as Ernest or Ernie to differentiate between him and his father. Ernest was son of local businessman William Smith who owned the Murray Meat and Grocery store (later Smith Market) and whom later oversaw the store.[2]

He was president of the Murray School District board, a member of the Murray fire department since 1910, ex- president of the Utah State Firemen’s Association and past president of the Murray Lions Club.[3]

He served as vice-president of the International Fire Chiefs Association, which was rare for a volunteer fire chief at that time. Murray City used volunteer firemen until the latter half of the twentieth century.[4]

He died in a nursing home in 1973.[5]

References

  1. Web site: History of Murray City > Past Mayors . . 13 April 2010.
  2. A Murray City Family Murray Eagle August 2, 1928
  3. Ernest Smith Murray Eagle August 2, 1945
  4. International Firemen Pick Murray Chief. Deseret News December 7, 1939
  5. "Ex-Murray Leader, W. E. Smith, Dies", The Salt Lake Tribune, Thursday, April 05, 1973, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States Of America