Andrew Smith, 1988 (THG file photo)

Telecom Heroes
Andrew V. Smith

Andrew V. Smith (commonly known as Andy) was a radio instructor in the US Navy before earning his BSEE at Oregon State University. He began working for Pacific Northwest Bell (PNB) in 1951 as a switchboard operator at the Portland office. By 1963, he had advanced to General Commercial Manager and became Assistant Vice President of Oregon Operations in 1965. In 1978, he was appointed President of PNB, overseeing operations across three states and thousands of employees.

During his leadership, PNB participated in various civic projects, including constructing a downtown convention center and facilitating events such as the NCAA basketball championships and NBA All-Star Game. Smith also engaged in community activities, especially those related to education.

An employee carved an eagle as a gesture of appreciation to Andy Smith for supporting the employee assistance program, using wood from a plunger switch frame removed from a central office in Portland.

Following Divestiture, Smith became Executive Vice President of U S WEST, retiring in 1989. In 1985, he was elected chairman of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce board of trustees and joined the Seattle University board of trustees the same year. He later served as a University of Washington Regent and held directorships with more than 12 corporations, including Tektronix and US Bancorp. His community involvement included organizations such as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Association and The Nature Conservancy.

In 1986, Smith received recognition from Citizens Education Center Northwest for contributions to public education, and in 1987, The Seattle Times named him among the state's 20 most influential people.