Obituary of William T. Smith II

SMITH, Sen. William T. II Former New York State Senator, “Cadillac” Bill Age 94 and longtime resident of Big Flats, NY passed away Tuesday Mar. 30, 2010. Bill was born in Corning NY the son the the late Maynard and Carrie (Shriver) Smith on Jan. 25, 1916. He was predeceased by his loving wife Dorothy (Nowak) Smith in 2007 and their daughter, Mary Judith Kelemen in 1973. Bill is survived by his sons and daughters, William (Priscilla) Smith III of Big Flats, NY, Bonnifer (Les) Schweizer of Cayuta, NY, Deborah (Terry) Burlingame of Keuka Lake, NY, Michael (Maureen) Smith also of Big Flats, NY; Grandchildren, Justin (Denise) Smith, Amanda (Robert) Phillips, Tambi, Lindsey and Kyle Schweizer, Korinne Shortino, Tyler, Connor and Austin Smith; Great grandchildren, Madeline and Lex Kekic, McKenzie and Madison Smith and Evan and Davis Phillips; Sister, Virginia Clifford of Cape Cod, MA and a host of neighbors, constituents and close and caring friends and extended family members including his nephew, Stephen(Liz) Smith of Rochester, NY. In additional to his wife and daughter, Bill was also predeceased by his brother Frank Smith. Locally he was a member of the Big Flats First Presbyterian Church, past member of Big Flats Fire Department, Big Flats Historical Society and Big Flats Masonic Lodge #378 F. & A.M. He was a local graduate of Corning Free Academy and graduate from the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University in 1938. Praised for his one-man campaign to protest the largesse of the federal government’s agricultural subsidy program, his drive to Washington in July 1961 gained national attention. One year later in 1962 he was elected to the NY State Senate. He described himself as a “Conservative Republican” – a label that he would proudly and steadfastly wear for the length of the long legislative career that lasted for the next 24 years, until his retirement in 1986 -- the longest-ever tenure for a local state senator, and one of the longest in the Senate’s illustrious history. He was a lifelong farmer and operator of Smithome Farms and Smithome Farms Kitchen. Throughout his career Bill remained an advocate of farming and agriculture and was also instrumental in the development of the New York STOP-DWI Association. Family and friends are invited to call at the Barber Funeral Home 413 S. Main St. Horseheads NY on Friday April 2, 2010 from 2-4:00 and 7-9:00 pm. A celebration of his life will take place in the First Presbyterian Church of Big Flats, 95 Main St. Big Flats, NY on Saturday at 10:00 am with interment to follow in Rural Home Cemetery. Those wishing may also remember Bill with memorials to Big Flats Historical Society, PO Box 232, Big Flats, NY, 14814, Big Flats First Presbyterian Church, 95 Main St., Big Flats, NY 14814, Southern Tier Hospice 11751 East Corning Rd., Corning, NY, 14830 or RID-Remove Intoxicated Drivers, c/o Ron Owens 101 Durland Ave., Elmira, NY 14905.