Hunter Engineering announced with sadness the passing of longtime employee Dave Smith. Smith worked for Hunter for nearly 40 years until his retirement in 2014. He was 75.
Smith joined Hunter in 1975 as a business representative for Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, before a promotion to Cleveland regional manager in 1980. He became Hunter’s vice president of sales and marketing in 1984 and moved to the company’s corporate headquarters in St. Louis.
In 2008, Smith was promoted to senior vice president, where he continued to manage Hunter’s dedicated field organization throughout North America and provided guidance to Hunter’s marketing department.
Hunter said Smith was instrumental in leading the company through a period of great growth, increasing the company’s sales and service organization from 200 representatives to more than 630.
“Dave took over Hunter’s sales organization at a difficult time in the company’s history. His enthusiasm and dedication for the next 24 years led to the creation of the industry’s greatest equipment sales and service force and unprecedented success with all of Hunter’s major customers. Dave’s contribution to Hunter’s growth is immeasurable,” said Hunter Chairman Stephen Brauer at the time of Smith’s retirement.
Known for his love of golf and great sense of humor, Smith was living in Port St. Lucie, FL, at the time of his passing. He is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Kim and grandsons Lucas, Benjamin and Blake.
