Ken Smith:
CLASS OF 1965
Harmon High SchoolClass of 1965
Stephenville, NF
Ken's Story
Class of 1965 – Where are they now?
Ken Smith, the Senior Class President 1964-65, is alive and well and living in
San Rafael California, 15 miles North of San Francisco.
Ken’s family was transferred to Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA in late May, 1965 just
two days after graduation ceremonies. The family of 6, along with their pet dog
traveled by 1965 Volkswagen Microbus from Newfoundland with stops in Nova Scotia,
New York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California before arriving in Vacaville, a few miles north of Travis.
Ken moved to Fort Worth Texas in August ’65 to find work and be nearer his
mom. He was drafted into the Army in late May ’66, but had already taken the
Airman’s Qualifiying Test in Dallas and was allowed to enlist in the AF in June
’66. Before induction into the military he traveled back to Stephenville in May of ‘66
in his 1962 Corvair to visit some of his HS pals.
Ken spent his entire 4 year AF career as a Medic and Operating Room Technician at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas and was Honorably Discharged as a Sgt E4
in 1970. He married Sharon Olen of Yuba City, CA while stationed at Lackland and
became the stepfather to Christine. Ken and Sharon later had daughter Jennifer in
1973. After the AF, Ken moved his family to Yuba City where he worked in a local
hospital as a Surgery Tech in the evening while attending school during the day.
Ken and Sharon separated in 1975 and divorced in 1977 after moving to Eureka, CA.
Ken enrolled in Humboldt State University in 1977 and received his degree in Theatre
in 1979. He eventually obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre, Scenic Design, Lighting Design and Technical Direction in 1981.
Ken moved to South Carolina for 6 months in 1981 and returned to the San Francisco
Bay area in early 1982. After working for a scenery company for a time, he went out
on his own and became a self employed scenic designer and set builder in 1983.
In 1984, Ken met his wife, Susan, a graphic designer in San Francisco, though they did not marry until 19...Expand for more
99 after 15 years of cohabitation. They bought a house in San Rafael
in 1998 and added on to it in 2005 to allow Susan’s daughter and husband move in to start a family. Susan and Ken get to see 7 year old grand daughter Charlotte every day.
Ken’s daughter, Jennifer Kaye Smith lives in San Rafael as dose his 13 year old daughter, Ryleigh Troe Gilardi, who attends White Hill School and is active in the musical theatre program.
Ken left the scenery business in 1990 to become a full time photographer in San Francisco. In 1995 he bought his first digital camera and became a full time digital photographer in 1999 with Old Navy, The Gap, Pottery Barn, PCWorld Magazine, Beverages and More as clients.
Ken moved his business to San Rafael in 2003 where he continues to own and operate Kenzmyth Productions, a film and video production company, Ken Smith Photography and Ken Smith Fine Art Photography. His fine art photography is shown in the Bay Area and he has 12 Solo Exhibitions between 2007 and 2011.
He is currently represented by Room Art Gallery in Mill Valley, CA.
Ken’s photographs are in collections around the US and Great Britain.
Ken has restored 5 MG cars from the ground up, including a 1970 MGB GT, a 1956 MGA Panamerica Carrera, a 1965 MGB auto crosser, a 1966 MGB with a Rover V8, a 1953 MG TD now residing in British Columbia, a 1954 MG TF/Pickup and a 1950 MG YA Sedan in process.
He has played lead and rhythm guitar and sung lead and backup vocals in several Bay Area Blues Bands, and has a 15 handicap on the golf course. He drives his '54 MG TF/Pickup regularly.
Ken’s father, M/Sgt June K. Smith retired from the AF in 1969 after having served on flight crews in WWII, Korea and Viet Nam. He died in 1993.
Ken’s mother, Billie Jean Thurlo, died in 1979.
Ken’s stepmother, Iva Ann Smith, move to Atwater, CA in 1993 and still lives there
with her mother, Edna Johnson, 103.
Ken’s brother James Kevin Smith lives in Dallas, TX.
Ken’ sister Julia Kay Fincher lives in Dallas, TX.
Ken’s sister Jane Collum lives in Big Spring, TX.
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