Earl Smith:
CLASS OF 1967
Northern High SchoolClass of 1967
Durham, NC
New Bern High SchoolClass of 1967
New bern, NC
Durham High SchoolClass of 1967
Durham, NC
Brogden Middle SchoolClass of 1964
Durham, NC
Central Junior High SchoolClass of 1963
New bern, NC
Earl's Story
(Updated Oct 2019) Grew up in and attended elementary schools in New Bern, NC. I loved baseball and played on Church League and Babe Ruth League teams My family moved to Durham, NC in the middle of 8th grade and I finished the 8th and 9th grades at Brodgen Jr. High School.. Most of my classmates at Brogden went to Durham High School but my family bought a home in the county. So, I began my sophomore year at Northern High School where I graduated in 1967.
The following fall, I enrolled at NCSU where I earned a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Married my high school sweetheart, Barbara Fields in 1970 and we have 3 children and 12 grandchildren (all are 14 and younger). Worked for a time as an engineer at an electrical utility, then was self-employed contractor doing mostly residential construction. Resumed my engineering career as a plant engineer at a textile manufacturing firm in 1977.. It was there that I realized that I wanted a technical track rather than a management track for my career. Enrolled in graduate school at Duke University where I finished the MS and PhD programs in electrical/computer engineering in the 1980's.
At the completion of the MS program at Duke, I was employed by IBM, working on several projects in communications equipment, software, computer networks and server hardware. Finally retired from IBM as a senior engineer in server development after 32+ years and transitioned to the same job at Lenovo after they purchased IBM's System x server business, retiring for good from my engineering career at the end of January, 2015. Results of work and stu...Expand for more
dies include seven US patents, twelve journal and conference papers, and several technical reports and technical presentations. Also, am a lifetime senior member of IEEE and served for a time as an IBM representative in IEEE Local Area Network standards subcommittee.
In the years leading up to retirement, I began doing income tax preparation so that I could use that activity to remain mentally active and socially engaged, especially during the cold weather months post-retirement. The research and problem solving that served me well as an engineer fits naturally with all sorts of problems including income taxes. I worked for ten tax seasons at H&R Block. In 2015, I became an Enrolled Agent designating that I have earned the privilege to represent taxpayers before the IRS. I now own a small tax return preparation service..
Over the years, I have traveled to France, UK, Canada, and various US locations on business. Also have been to Nassau, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Israel, Honduras/Roatan and Curacao on pleasure. Twice, I went to Honduras on mission with the North Carolina Baptist Men. Most recently, have been to London to visit my daughter and her family.
Currently I teach Sunday School and serve as a deacon at Bahama Baptist Church. Keeping up with grandkids has become a full time job now with the ball games, dance recitals, school activities and birthdays. Still hunt and fish when I can and grow a few vegetables for fun. Sometimes get to play ball with grandsons but learned quickly not to challenge them on video games. And, I still have my golf clubs if the occasion arises.
Register for Free to view all details!
Reunions
Register for Free to view all events!
Photos