Rex Smith

Running Back (1949-50)

Rex Smith graduated in 1949 from Daniel Webster High School in Tulsa. He played for Coach Cliff Long at Coffeyville Community College for two years. Smith said, “It was great fun playing on a team with so much tradition and fan support.” In addition to football, Smith played Ban Johnson Baseball at Coffeyville for three summers starting in 1950. The team was state champions the first year.

Rex went on to play football at Kansas University for two years for Coach Jules Verne Sikes. He credits Dr. Robert Warren Diver of Coffeyville for being an instrumental help in obtaining the scholarship to KU.

Upon graduating KU, Rex joined the Navy. He served aboard the submarine tender USS Orion that was based in Norfolk, VA. While in the Navy, Rex became interested in a career in aviation. While obtaining his pilot’s license, he received his commercial license at Coffeyville’s airport from the late Ray Sage, a Coffeyville native.

Rex obtained his first flying job in Lawrence, KS, in 1958. In the 1960s, he went to work for Mohawk Airlines as an airline pilot. He later went to work for Pan American Airways where he flew out of John F. Kennedy Airport and San Francisco. In 1971, Rex moved to Berlin, Germany, to fly the Internal German Service (IGS) out of Tempelhof Airport. Rex spent 20 years flying out of Berlin, expect for a one year posting to Hong Kong during Vietnam. During his career with Pan Am, Rex flew the Boeings 707, 727, 737, 747, and the A310 Airbus.

Rex and his wife, Deirdre, moved to Cameron Park, CA, in 1997. Rex has 3 daughters, 3 granddaughters, a grandson, a great granddaughter, and a great grandson from a previous marriage.

“Growing up as I did, in Middle America, it never occurred to me that I might someday see so much of the world, but it’s been a good ride.”