The Indiana Publisher

Cecil J. Smith, Jr., Nov. 14-1938-Dec. 24, 2020, died from complications of Parkinson's disease and COVID-19 while in the lov- ing care of the Louisville VA Medical Center hospice team. The youngest son of Dr. Cecil J. and Helen FitzSimmons Smith, he spent his early years in Pasadena, California and at San Juan Capistrano beach. Later the family moved to the St. Louis area, where Cecil began working the newspaper business. Drafted into the U.S. Army, he was trained as a photogra- pher and served at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he met and married Martha Spanyer in 1963. In 1965, Cecil took the job of editor of the Salem Leader and Salem Democrat newspa- pers, a career he enjoyed until his retire- ment in 2000. Cecil col- lected model trains and railroad equip- ment in a pri- vate museum for many years, and donated much of his collection to start The Depot Museum at the John Hay Center in Salem. From the opening in 2001, he led a mostly volunteer team to expand and improve the museum, and enjoyed serving as volunteer stationmaster for 18 years. Cecil was an active member of St Patrick Church. He has served as a Eucharistic Lay Minister, a Reader, a Parish Council Member and most recently a Greeter. Cecil also served on the Salem tree board, parks and recreation board, the economic development commission and the urban enterprise association board. He was a past president of the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association, past presi- dent of the Salem Rotary Club, a Kentucky Colonel, and a mem- ber of the American Legion. In 2010, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, and Volunteer of the Year by the Washington County Historical Society. Cecil was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Fr. Alberic Smith, OFM, and a granddaughter: Betsie Bussert. He is survived by his wife, Martha, and four children, Jennifer (Mark) Olesh, Sharon (Jess) Bussert, John (Jane) Smith, and Paul (Barbara) Smith. Also 16 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, and his other brother, Arthur Smith (Norma). Cecil was able to live at home throughout his long strug- gle with Parkinson's disease because of the care provided by many helpers, nurse, family and friends. Deserving special men- tion is Jack Hudkins, RN, who provided professional, compas- sionate and reliable care for the past year. Fr. Henry Tully celebrated a private Mass of Christian burial at St. Patrick Church, on Dec. 29. A public celebration of life will be held some time in sum- mer, 2021. Memorial donations may be made to Washington County Community Foundation or char- ity of donor's choice. January 2021 Page 3 Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Journalism Award was created through a grant by the Pulliam Trust to the Hoosier State Press Association Foundation to recognize Indiana journalists for outstanding reporting on environ- mental issues. The award was part of the HSPA Better Newspaper Contest for the first time in 2018 and will be presented annually as part of the BNC where Indiana newspaper journalists are honored each year. . Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust $1,000 Environmental Journalism Award Hoosier State Press Association Foundation Cecil Smith, former editor for Salem Leader, Salem Democrat dies at 82 Smith

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