RALEIGH, NC (BRAIN)—William Sherod (WS) Smith, a retired sales rep who serviced territories in North Carolina for many different companies, passed away on November 20 of complications from ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was 69.
Smith’s stops in the bicycle industry included GT, Diamondback, KHS and Haro. He got to know many North Carolina retailers very well like Bicycle Toy and Hobby Sales in High Point, North Carolina.
“We go way back, many, many years with him,” said Dolly Jennings, owner of Bicycle Toy and Hobby Sales. One of the reasons Smith holds a special place in Dolly’s heart is because “he played Cupid” in setting up Dolly’s daughter, Daryn, with husband John Harrell, whose parents own Paul’s Cycling & Fitness in Winston-Salem.
“He was one of our oldest reps,” Dolly said of Smith who retired several years ago from the business. “He’s the end of an era.
“He was very nice guy,” Dolly added. “Everybody that’s been in this business for a long time (in the North Carolina area) knows who he is.”
Derric Jennings, who works at his parents' store, said he remembers Smith as just a little kid hanging around the shop. “He always had some good stories,” Derric said. “He loved to go to Las Vegas (for Interbike) to play golf with his buddies.”
Hollywood Racks product manager Rick Burneson knew Smith from their days together at Riteway. Burneson was in purchasing and Smith was, of course, a sales rep.
“He was a professional,” Burneson said. “He was really easy to work with. He was very easy to get along with.”
WS is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sandra Lee Greene Smith (Sandy), of Wilmington; a daughter, Deborah Paige O'Shields and husband Chad, also of Wilmington; a son, Douglas Allan Smith and Stephanie Harman and son Christian, of Myrtle Beach, SC; and a daughter, Susan Leigh Morefield and husband Joseph, of Whitsett, NC.
—Jason Norman
