| Notes |
- Laredo Morning Times (TX)
June 9, 2002
John H. Smither, a partner in Houston's largest law firm and a collector of folk art, has died of lymphoma. He was 61.
Smither, who died Thursday, had been a director of the Folk Art Society of America. He also had been president of the Houston Ballet Foundation.
With his wife, Smither was owner of one of the Houston area's largest and most important collections of folk art.
The Smither collection, housed in the Smithers' homes in Houston and Huntsville, contained the works of such folk artists as the Rev. Howard Finster, Martin Ramirez, Carl Block, Roy Boling, Frank Jones, Jimmy Lee Sudduth, the Rev. Johnnie Swearingen and others.
"He recognized that art was not just to be admired, but it is a necessary part of a civilization," his wife, Stephanie Smither, told the Houston Chronicle for its online edition Saturday.
Born in Houston, Smither attended The Citadel military academy in Charleston, S.C., before studying at the University of Texas in Austin, where in 1962 he received a degree with honors in business administration. He earned his law degree at UT in 1964.
Commissioned as a lieutenant, Smither served in the U.S. Military Police in Germany until 1966.
Following his military service, he joined Vinson & Elkins, where he practiced law for 36 years.
He also is survived by son John Kerr Smither and daughters Ashley Langley and Paige Johnson.
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1940 - 2002 (61 years)
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