Automotive journalism has been filled with men and women who were memorable for their dedication to their craft as well as their colorful personalities. David Smith fits that description or, more accurately, the description fits Dave. A mentor to scores of reporters and editors for decades, Smith died Thursday. He was 93.
David C. Smith helped shape automotive journalism during his decades in the industry.
After serving in the Korean War, Dave Smith, an honorably discharged U.S. Marine came to Central Michigan University to become a schoolteacher. Smith began his career in 1958 as a sports reporter at Central Michigan University where he received the Ralph M. Byers Award given to a student showing outstanding promise as a journalist.
He worked at the Detroit Times, The Toledo Blade, The Wall Street Journal and the Detroit Free Press. While serving as its business and financial editor, he contributed to a Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting of the Detroit riots.
Dave joined Ward’s Auto World in 1970. He helped shift it from a stodgy automotive newsletter into a must-read magazine for industry executives, engineers, and others. After retiring from Ward’s as its editor-in-chief, he remained as a contributor offering insights and perspective forged by more than three decades of intense industry coverage. He was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2005 with the moniker, “Mr. Automotive.”
Sharing the wealth
Dave Smith mentored hundreds of reporters, editors and likely plenty of executives during his storied career.
His legacy as a demanding, knowledgeable, gruff journalist with a sharp, sarcastic wit is still seen and felt daily through the hundreds of writers and editors he mentored during his six-decade career.
“He was demanding and taught us to dig deeper into every assignment until we were sure we had the whole story and that, above all, we were right. He was the ultimate news guy,” noted Marge Sorge, former managing editor and executive editor of Ward’s Auto World, where she worked with Dave.
Not shy by nature, nor was he stingy when it came to sharing advice, insights or a good joke — dryly delivered. He was always at the ready when it came to helping journalists find their way.
“I was a brash young reporter 45 years ago trying to carve out a niche on the automotive beat, a small handful of folks went far beyond the call, serving as mentors and friends. Few offered more help than David,” said Paul A. Eisenstein, publisher of Headlight.News, and longtime automotive journalist.
Dave is survived by his wife of 67 years, Isabelle, as well as Erin (John) Millerschin, Geoff (Ann) Smith, Tim (Jocelyn) Smith, and the late Shannon Smith. He is grandfather to Eleanor (Nate), Olivia (fiance James), and Bailey (fiance Ada).
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