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GARFIELD
COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT
Dr Roy Orval Smith
This is the story of Dr Roy Orval Smith who was one of
Rifle's town fathers and a longtime Civic Leader. And, for more detail, stop by
the Heritage Center to see their extensive collection he donated.
Roy was
born in Lecompton, Kansas March 23, 1874, and attended schools and Lane
University there. He and Alice Maude Barnes were married in 1896 in Kansas and
together had a son Henry and daughter Virginia. His first wife Alice was born in
Clatonia, Ohio, September 5, 1875.
His first trade was telegraphy as he
worked for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad from the age of 18 to
32, that is 1892 to 1906. He was first assigned to a three month stint on the
Ophir Loop near Telluride, Colorado.
During that time, Roy noted the need for
dentists in the far west and returned to Chicago for dental training. When that
training was completed, he and Alice went west arriving in Rifle in 1908 to set
up practice. Except for seven years, he lived the rest of his life in Rifle,
though he did serve as a Lieutenant in the Navy during World War I.
Alice
died in 1912 at the age of 35 after 16 years of marriage. She had been in poor
health for some time with tuberculosis. She is buried at Rose Hill.
Roy then
married Helen May Mann March 29, 1914, in Rifle. Helen was born March 15, 1895
in Merom, Indiana. She was the daughter of pioneer preacher Horace Mann who
served at the Christian Church from 1904 to 1907. That was the building that
later became the Presbyterian Church, and the one that had the Roosevelt window.
It was Horace who asked Teddy to speak at the Little Blue School House, creating
an important part of local history.
Roy's time away from Rifle was from 1917
to 1924 when he sold his dental practice to a new dentist, Lawrence Clark. That
also created an important part of local history as Lawrence was to be father to
Betty Clark, the flier who co-founded Mil-Hi Aviation.
Roy and his second
wife Helen had two children, son Roy born 1917 in Illinois, and daughter Eleanor
born in 1926 in Rifle. Roy served as Dentist until 1964 when he was 89 years
old.
Roy was a leader in community affairs from the time he arrived in Rifle.
He was a member of the Christian Church, and had served as its treasurer for 27
years. He was active in Rifle Masonic Lodge 129, was worshipful master, and also
served as secretary for 25 years.
He was a member of the Knights Templar in
Glenwood, the Order of Eastern Star, was an organizer of the Order of Rainbow,
and had been a member of El Jebel Shrine Temple in Denver.
He was treasurer
of the Library Board 26 years, city council 2 years, school board 7 years, and
helped organize the Red Cross.
Roy passed away August 26, 1964 at his home in
Rifle. Helen passed away April 5, 1977 in Glenwood Springs. Both are buried at
Rose Hill.
 Roy in his younger
years
 Helen May Mann,
second wife of Roy Smith
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