Jeff Smith – LOViT Has Lost A Very Good Friend
A very good friend of the LOViT and of the Traildogs, Jeff Smith, was tragically killed Friday afternoon, Oct. 10, in a head-on collision on Highway 7 north of the town of Bismarck, AR. Jeff Smith was editor of the Special Sections of the Hot Spring Sentinel-Record and has faithfully reported the story of the building of the Trail now for 10 years, writing a great many articles about our progress.
Jeff was a dedicated supporter of the Trail. He came to our first day of construction each year without fail, from year one to our last first day this year.
From the Hot Springs Sentinel_Record Facebook page:
“Jeff Durand Smith, a valued member of The Sentinel-Record family, was killed early Friday evening in a three-vehicle accident on Highway 7 south near Bismarck in Hot Spring County.
“Jeff, the special sections editor for The Sentinel-Record, was well known in the community for his reporting of veterans affairs in Hot Springs and Garland County, his extraordinarily detailed coverage of Hot Springs Village, and his weekly coverage of western Garland County and areas beyond.
“There are no words to express the feeling of sadness and loss we feel today at The Sentinel-Record. Jeff will be sorely missed, and our prayers are with his family. We will pass on funeral information as soon as it becomes available.
“– Mark Gregory, editor”
The Traildogs are starting a fund to sponsor a trail bench in Jeff’s honor. If you would like to contribute to his fund please make a check out to “Friends of Lake Ouachita”, and mail it to 3812 Hwy 270 E, Mount Ida, AR 71957. You can also donate through PayPal using the “Donate” button on this page. Once we have the bench plaque we will host a short memorial at the bench to install the plaque.
Thank you all for your support.
Jeff, we will miss you.
Jerry