Born and raised in Tucker County Wayne spent his early years growing up on a dairy farm, rising early to milk cows before going to school. He loved being outdoors, going fishing, and swimming in the river.
During his teen years he was involved in his youth group at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. He was a proud member of the award winning Parsons High School marching band all four years of high school and played many instruments, but the cornet/trumpet brought him awards for his talent. He was given the opportunity to compete in all state band. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1967.
After high school he attended Fairmont State and Computer programming school in Pittsburgh, PA. He enlisted in the US Navy in September 1969. During his boot camp the ability to play the trumpet well gave him the opportunity to play in the Navy band for ceremonies for graduating classes each week. Upon his graduation from boot camp he attended navigation school in Newport, RI where he excelled in his class. Upon completion of navigation training he reported for duty aboard the USS Austin where he served tours of duty in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and North Atlantic. He was honorably discharged with the rank of E-5 after four years of service.
He came home to Tucker County, the land he loves, to make his home and support folks he had known most of his life. Finding employment in 1973 with First National Bank of Parsons as a teller, he rose rapidly through the banking ranks. In 1986 he was hired at Garrett National Bank as Assistant Vice President of Loans. He later took over as the lead auditor for American Trust Bank which merged with Garrett National and worked/traveled extensively throughout West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. From 1999 to 2002 he was employed by the Ohio West Virginia YMCA at Camp Horseshoe as their business manager. In 2002 he was hired by Grant County Bank as a branch manager/loan officer at their Riverton Branch. In 2006 he was transferred to the Davis Branch as Regional Manager and Commercial loan officer for the Davis, Canaan, and Harman branch offices.
He is a member of the Tucker County Development Authority where he has served as President for the past eight years and has been influential in economic development within the county. This is ongoing and the future looks to hold good things for the county as he is always looking for the good he sees in people.
He has a passion for farming and raises Black Angus cattle and takes care of the land he loves. He was awarded the WV Conservation Farmer of the Year for Tucker County in 2016 by the Tygarts Valley Conservation District for his progressive work on proper water supplies for cattle and a feed barn geared to protecting his herd and the environment.
He has been a member of the St. Paul’s United Methodist Church since he was a young boy. He has served as Treasurer for the past 17 years and is heavily involved with the workings of the church.
Another one of his passions is the mission field helping those less fortunate. He has been going to Sucre, Bolivia with a mission team since 1996 helping with the building of a Christian University, two orphanages, re-hab center, church and currently a school. He has seen lives changed though the work of the team over the last twenty plus years and is now seeing the fruits of the labor and as it is being passed on to a new generation. He has always seen his mission in life to be of service to his fellowman.
In 2018 Smith was inducted into the Parsons High School Alumni Hall of Fame in Honor and Recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to Military Service, Mentoring New Businesses, Farming, Foreign Missions, Volunteerism, Civic, Church and Community Service.
He is married to Mary Jane (Watring) Smith. He is the proud father of Chad W. Smith of Hambleton and Jason L. Smith of Leadmine. And grandfather of Adair, Trent, Avery, Karlee and Camille and great grandfather of Asa
Upon retirement Smith plans to remain active with Church and the Development Authority and devoting more time to the beef cattle operation.
