Name: Smith III, Robert
Title: Fmr. Senior VP of Federal Reserve Bank
Texas A&M Class: 1961
Inducted: 2007
Rear Admiral Robert Smith graduated from Texas A&M University in 1961 with a B.S. degree in agricultural economics. As a student at Texas A&M, he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, the Agricultural Economics Club, and the Dallas Hometown Club. Furthering his education, he received a degree from Louisiana State University’s School of Banking of the South in 1977.
Rear Admiral Smith was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in 1962 and graduated from the Naval War College. He also attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. In 1987, he was promoted to rear admiral (lower half) and later earned his second star in 1991. Rear Admiral Smith’s 35 years of service saw assignments in the Pacific, Washington D.C., and the Atlantic.
He retired in 1996 as chief of staff to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The U.S. Navy recognized his distinguished military career with honors including the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (3 awards), the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation Award (2).
Rear Admiral Smith began his civilian career with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in 1968, and he has served as secretary to the Bank’s board of directors and to the Federal Reserve System’s Conference of Presidents. In 1975, he served as assistant secretary to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Today, he is senior vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank, responsible for its Houston branch.
As a Texas A&M former student, Rear Admiral Smith is actively involved as an ardent supporter and past president of The Association of Former Students, the Dallas A&M Club, and is past chairman of the Texas A&M Foundation. He is a past member of the 12th Man Foundation Board of Directors and the Chancellor’s Century Council. He is a member of the Corps of Cadets Development Council, vice chairman of the Presidential Board of Visitors, and chairs the President’s Council of Advisors.
In 1999, he received the Jimmy Williams Distinguished Service Award from the Dallas A&M Club and was named “Outstanding Houston Aggie of the Year” by the Houston A&M Club in 2002. Most recently, he was recognized by the Association of Former Students as a recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award.
Admiral Smith and his wife, Mary Sue, reside in Houston and Rockwall, Texas.
