
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993                   TAG: 9309180265
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PETERSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

EX-DELEGATE W. ROY SMITH DIES AT AGE 73

W. Roy Smith, a Democrat who served in the House of Delegates from 1951 to 1973 and headed its Appropriations Committee, died of cancer Friday at his Petersburg home. He was 73.

"Roy's contributions to good government in Virginia were many, and his knowledge of fiscal affairs was unsurpassed," said former Gov. Mills Godwin. "His conservative yet progressive political philosophy served Virginia well."

Smith was appointed to Virginia Commonwealth University's board of visitors in 1981, was vice rector for three years and was rector from 1984 until 1986.

Born and reared in Petersburg, the son of a pharmacist, he graduated from the Medical College of Virginia School of Pharmacy in 1941.

In 1947, Smith left the family business and started his own pharmaceutical firm, Physicians Products Co. Inc. He sold the firm in 1963.

Smith joined A.H. Robins Co. in 1969 as new-products planning director. In 1973, he was named vice president. After a brief tenure as senior vice president, he also became general manager of the pharmaceutical division in 1976, heading it until his retirement in January 1982.

Smith leaves his wife, Virginia; two sons, Robert W.N. Smith and Robert B. Smith II, both of Petersburg; and a daughter, Virginia L. McLauchlan of New Bern, N.C.

A funeral will be held at noon Monday in St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

by CNB