William J. Smith, Jr., who served as Executive Director of the MSBA from 1977 through 1984, died on June 16, 2022. He was 98. 

Smith was born on September 14, 1923, and grew up in Baltimore. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Loyola College and his law degree from the University of Maryland College of Law. 

He honorably served as a U.S. Marines during World War II. After returning home, he practiced law at Bald, Smith and Lucke, in Severna Park and Annapolis. Smith was a member of many boards including: the Greater Severna Park Council, Anne Arundel Board of Appeals, Counsel to the Board of Election Supervisors, and Anne Arundel Community College Board of Trustees. 

During Smith’s tenure as Executive Director, the MSBA joined the Bar Associations Insurance Trust as a sponsoring association to negotiate life and disability insurance benefits for its members, and announced the establishment of a statewide lawyer referral service. Additionally, in response to MSBA initiatives, the Maryland General Assembly enacted a voluntary Interest on Lawyer Trust Account (IOLTA) program for the purpose of funding legal services to the poor and establishing the Maryland Legal Services Corporation (MLSC) to supervise the distribution of revenues.

In 1999, Smith moved to Salisbury and was elected Judge of the Orphans’ Court of Wicomico County at the age of 79. He served three terms, retiring at the age of 91. 

He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Isabelle Kelly Smith; his sister Nancy Marquand; his two children, Stephen (Cathy) Smith of Severna Park, Maryland, and Anita (Ted) Bavis of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

A funeral service was held July 2 in Berlin, Maryland.