AJ Smith
A.J. Smith, Jr. went to be with our Lord on July 25, 2009 at the age of 68. He was born on May 21, 1941 to Alva and Sue Smith at Hobart, Oklahoma and grew up on the family farm north of Lone Wolf. A.J. graduated from Lone Wolf High School in May 1959 and was active in the Future Farmers of America. He attended the First Christian Church in Lone Wolf, where he was baptized. A.J. graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1963 with an animal science degree.
After graduating, A.J. served his country by joining the Air National Guard. Upon completion of his tour in the guard, he returned to Lone Wolf to manage the family farm. A.J. and his father were the first in Kiowa County to purchase a brand new Versatile tractor. On March 28, 1970, A.J. was married to Debra Pollard at the First Christian Church in Lone Wolf. The two firmly planted their roots in Lone Wolf, where they opened Debra’s Country Kitchen.
A.J. and his father ran 150 head of registered polled Hereford cows. A.J. continued to farm and ranch on the family farm until he accepted the position of Harmon County 4-H agent in 1983. A.J. moved his family to Gould where he lived and worked for the next 2 ½ years as field representative and editor for Better Beef Business, as field representative for Gulf Coast Cattleman and Weekly Livestock Reporter, and agricultural educator for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.
On Feb. 1, 1985, A.J. was named editor of the Oklahoma Cowman magazine, the official publication of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association. He excelled as the editor, serving for 24 years until his death. He wrote 294 editorials and countless feature stories, took thousands of pictures, planned numerous ranch tours, and traveled the country providing ring service at purebred and commercial cattle sales.
A.J. was recognized with numerous honors and awards for his efforts and contributions to the nation’s cattle industry. He received the OSU Animal Science Recognition Award, Beefmaster Appreciation Award, OSU Animal Science Graduate of Distinction Award, Oklahoma Hereford Association Heritage Award, Oklahoma Youth Expo Show Honoree Award and Honorary Cattlewoman of the Year Award. He also was inducted into the Oklahoma Angus Hall of Fame and served as president of the Southwest American Livestock Foundation.
Preceding A.J. in death were his parents, Alva and Sue Smith; Paul Senkoff; father-in-law, Delbert Pollard; sister-in-law, Loretta Pollard; and grandparents, J.R. and Edna Smith and J.O. and Cora Shelburne.
He is survived by his wife, Debra, of 39 years; his son, Aaron, and wife, Staci Smith; daughter, Christel and husband, David Birk; and daughter, Jessi and husband, Mike Barnett, all of Tuttle. He is also survived by one sister, Riletta, and husband, Norman Nixon, of Tulsa; sister-in-law, Marquita and husband, Rodney Jarvis, of Creede, Colorado; and mother-in-law, Dorothy Pollard, of Tuttle. Grandchildren are Kylie, Drue and Taylon Smith; Caeden and Corben Birk; and Resse and Kaleb Barnett, all of Tuttle. He will be missed by many cousins, nieces, and nephews and a host of friends.
A Family Chapel Service will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at People’s Cooperative Funeral Home, Lone Wolf, Oklahoma.
A Memorial Service celebrating the life and legacy of A.J. Smith will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the Express Ranch Show and Sale Barn located at 2202 N. 11th , Yukon, Oklahoma (3 ¼ miles north of exit 136 on I-40).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the “A.J. Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund” to benefit his grandchildren. Donations may be made payable to “Smith Fund” and mailed to the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, 2500 Exchange Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73108.
