Sam K. Smith

Born in Oklahoma on April 13, 1932, Sam was raised by his grandparents in Okmulgee, where he moved when he was 7, and where he met Diane. After serving in the Air Force, Sam and Diane were married in June of 1953. Sam graduated from the University of Oklahoma with an electrical engineering degree in 1958, and Sam and Diane moved their family to Dallas when Sam joined Texas Instruments. He began his career in TI’s defense electronics group and eventually became the vice president in charge of that business. He successfully managed several other business segments as he rose in the company to become one of its most effective and respected senior executives. Sam left TI in 1983 to join the Sevin Rosen venture capital organization where he was active as an investor, director, technical advisor and mentor for numerous startup companies.

Sam leaves his wife of 62 years, Diane, his children, Barbara Hanley (Bob), Janet McClurg (Rick), Ellen Pryor (Will), David Smith (Deeann), Carol Leyendecker (Derek) and Mary Campise Flink (Bill), 22 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and many, many friends who loved him.

After a private family mass, a memorial celebration will be held on Friday, January 29, 2016 from 1-4 p.m. at: 3015 at Trinity Groves, 3015 Gulden Lane, Dallas, Texas 75212.

Because Sam was so passionate about education, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sam and Diane Smith Scholarship fund at Ursuline Academy, Cistercian Preparatory School, or Mary Immaculate School in memory of Sam K. Smith.