Elvie L. Smith

Elvie Lawrence Smith (January 8, 1926, in Eatonia, Saskatchewan — August 4, 1999 in St. Lambert, Quebec)[1] was a Canadian aviation engineer known for his work with gas turbines, and for his time at Pratt & Whitney Canada.[2]

Education

Smith attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1947, and subsequently earned a master's in that field from Purdue University.[3]

Career

Smith began his career at the National Research Council, where he spent either five[3] or seven[4][5] years. In 1957, he joined Pratt and Whitney Canada[4] as an Analytical Engineer.[5] In 1958[5] or 1959,[3] he was a Chief Project Engineer; in 1962 he was promoted to Engineering Manager;[1] in 1966 he was vice-president of Engineering;[1] and in 1970[1] or 1973[4] he was vice-president of Operations.

In 1978, he became Executive Vice President,[1] and in March 1980, was appointed President[6] and CEO,[3] being further selected as Chairman of the Board in 1984.[1] In 1987, he retired, but retained his seat on the board until 1994.[7]

Personal life

In addition to being an aviation engineer, Smith was himself a pilot (having earned his license while at Purdue),[1] with a flight time of over 5300 hours in both powered and unpowered aircraft;[7] as well, three of his four children became commercial airline pilots.[4]

Recognition

In 1985, the Royal Society of Canada awarded Smith the Thomas W. Eadie Medal.[8] In 1992, he was inducted into the Order of Canada,[9] and in 1993, he was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame.[1] In 1997, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers awarded him the R. Tom Sawyer Award.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Elvie Lawrence Smith at the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame; retrieved September 11, 2023
  2. ^ ELVIE SMITH, FORMER P&W EXECUTIVE, DIES, at Aviation Week; published August 9, 1999; retrieved September 11, 2023
  3. ^ a b c d Honorary degree citation - Elvie L. Smith, by T.S. Sankar; June 1983; at Concordia University; retrieved September 11, 2023
  4. ^ a b c d Had lifelong passion for aviation. Helped develop the gas-turbine engine for use in aircraft, by Karen Palmer, at the Globe and Mail; published August 9, 1999; p. A 13 (via ProQuest)
  5. ^ a b c d Elvie Laurence Smith BEng, MEng at the University of Saskatchewan; retrieved September 11, 2023
  6. ^ Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Group Appointments: Donald C. Lowe, Elvie L. Smith, L. David Caplan, in The Globe and Mail; published March 11, 1980; p. B 3; retrieved September 11, 2023, via ProQuest
  7. ^ a b Elvie Smith was CEO of Pratt & Whitney, in the Montreal Gazette; published August 6, 1999; p. C 12; retrieved September 11, 2023; via ProQuest
  8. ^ Thomas W. Eadie Medal, at the Royal Society of Canada; published February 13, 2012; retrieved September 11, 2023 (via archive.org
  9. ^ Mr. Elvie Lawrence Smith, at the Order of Canada; retrieved September 11, 2023