George A. Smith III, Former NBFAA President, Dies at 81
George Albert Smith, III of Dallas passed away Thursday, July 1, from natural causes. Smith was born January 9, 1940, to George Albert Smith Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Smith, where he was the first of six children.
Smith graduated high school at Cascia Hall Preparatory School in Tulsa, Okla., and later earned his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from the University of North Texas while raising his young family in the Dallas area. Following graduation, Smith became the third generation to lead Smith Alarm Systems, originally Smith Detective Agency & Nightwatch Service, one of Dallas’s oldest family-owned companies, founded in 1903 by his grandfather, George A. Smith Sr. Smith was to become highly recognized for his industry experience and leadership of Smith Alarm Systems by being elected to serve as the president of the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (Now the Electronic Security Association) from 1980 to 1982. He later received the Morris. F. Weinstock Person of the Year Award, considered to be the most esteemed honor in the electronic security and life safety industry.
While Smith was well known for his business acumen, it also known that he loved all things outdoors. Following his retirement, his family and friends would often find him hunting, riding horses, or playing golf in some of the best courses in America. Smith amplified his passions by frequently visiting the family’s HVL Ranch in New Mexico, or his second home in Sante Fe. Smith also had many great years with his family and friends at the GK Ranch located north of Dallas in Bells, Texas, where he developed an impressive and award-winning herd of Black Angus cattle.
Though Smith will be remembered by his vivacious cowboy attitude that made ever-lasting impressions, he will mostly be remembered by his acts of love, devotion, and care for his family.
He is preceded in death by his son, Scott Smith; and sister Carol Ann Zaenglein. He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Karla Smith; son Stephen Smith; daughter Shannon Monk; grandson Andrew Smith, Nicholas Monk, and James Monk; great-grandson Finley Smith; brother Jim Smith; sisters Martha Stafford, Betty Kerlick, and Sally Matarranz.
Services will be held on Saturday, July 10, 2021 at Sparkman Hillcrest, Mausoleum Chapel, in Dallas at 2:00 p.m.
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