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Grand Marshal has longtime Williams ties<br>

Williams Labor Day Parade Honorary Grand Marshal Robbie Smith is all smiles. Smith rode in a carriage driven by Roxen Cureton.

Smith’s grandfather “Ten-nessee” Tom Smith and his wife settled in Williams early on as ranchers. Smith continued the tradition by working as a rancher and cowboy himself — stopping to serve in the Army in World War II — until he was offered a job as a police officer in Williams by Police Chief Don Massey.

Smith served as an officer for 20 years and says one of his many memorable career moments was a quirky truck fire.

“I was working, and there was this big semi-truck that would come through town with fire extinguishers for sale," Smith recounts. “One day, the truck caught fire, so I pulled up and said ‘Why don’t you grab one of those fire extinguishers.’ He said he didn’t have any. I asked him if he had one in his cab and he said no, so we had to get the fire department to put it out.”

Apparently, Smith adds, the trucker was doing well — a little too well — selling his extinguishers.

Smith has several relatives in the area including two daughters, Kathie Craig and Robynn Eckel; son Marion Smith; and sister Mary Pitts.

Currently, he enjoys family, friends, going to Rosa’s Cantina on Tuesday and Friday nights, and still enjoys his leisurely drives out in the woods with his granddog, Daisy.

Smith has a wealth of knowledge about Williams, its people and the surrounding countryside.


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