Kate Elizabeth (Robertson) Smith (1914 - 2004)

Born 1914 in San Benito, Texas

Ancestors

Wife of Harwood K Smith — married 1936 in San Benito, TX

Died 2004 at about age 90 in Dallas, Texas

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Kate in Acapulco December 1970

Biography

This profile was written by Allan Harl Thomas

Kate ( Mrs Harwood K.) Smith was born Kate Elizabeth Robertson in 1914 at San Benito Texas. She was the daughter of Myrtis Conerly and Frank Selden Robertson. She was named in memory of her grandmother, Catherine (Kate) Ann Merry Lewis Robertson. She had one sibling, sister Merry Mildred Robertson Thomas, who was twelve years older than her.

Kate grew up in San Benito Texas, which was founded by her father and her legendary uncle, Colonel Sam A. Robertson.

Regarding the "Bandit Wars" Kate recalled, "During 1915 and 1916 there was trouble in the Valley with bandits from Mexico. They crossed the river and rode through the towns shooting wildly. As an aside, I, Kate, a child of one or two years of age was hidden in the bathtub on the second floor of our home."^[1]

She attended school in San Benito then graduated from Baylor University in 1935.

In 1936 Kate married her high school sweetheart, Harwood K. Smith. Harwood and Kate, shortly after that time, moved to Dallas Texas where, together, they founded Harwood K. Smith and Associates, an architectural firm. Even today, 75 years later, HKS Inc. remains one of this nations premier architectural firms. In the '70's Harwood's trademark mirrored sky scrapers were featured in the opening credits of the television series “Dallas”.

Harwood took the advice of his father and established himself as an internationally revered architect before pursuing his first passion as an Artist in the media of water colors. Kate was forever at his side in every achievement. While Harwood painted in their cherished Mexico and Guatemala Kate pursued her interest in indigenous textiles and stitchery. Her needlepoint work was awesome. She was a lifelong student of the Spanish language. At home, in Dallas, she studied with a small group of friends interested in remaining fluent in the language.

While Kate epitomized elegance, she will be best remembered for her generosity, which reached the furthermost extents of her relations. She will be remembered as a hostess who loved to entertain at their home in Dallas on Turtle Creek, and at the home in Acapulco Mexico she and Harwood designed which was perched on a towering cliff with an open air living room overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Her grandchildren affectionately knew her as “Mimi”.

Kate's Christian roots ran deep, it was obvious in her demeanor and in the uplifting effect she had on the many lives she touched. Her mother and father, Frank and Myrtis Conerly Robertson, were founders of the San Benito First Baptist Church and the Valley Baptist Hospital in Harlingen Texas. Her fathers family, the Robertson's, were founders of the Christian Church of Christ. Her mother's family, the Conerly's, established Methodism in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas in the antebellum years. Kate Smith was a member of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (designed by Kate and Harwood) in Dallas Texas for over forty five years.

Harwood Knox Smith passed away in 2002 at the age of eighty-nine years. He and Kate had been married for sixty-six years

Both Kate and Harwood's funeral services were held at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, a structure they designed.

Daughter Kay, married Tom (Mack) McCoullough Strother. August 29, 1962 at Saint Michaels Episcopal Church in Dallas.

Kate Elizabeth Robertson Smith joined her Lord April 26th, 2004.

Kate and Harwood may not be remembered for their contribution to the Dallas skyline, it is ever changing. Their endowments to the Texas A & M School of Architecture, and HKS INC's continued commitment to that institution, will be their guaranteed legacy and a continuing influence on the design and culture of the Texas of the future, indeed, and the World.

And, of course, Harwood and Kate's legacy also lies in their two children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was the daughter of Franklin Robertson and Anna Conerly. ^[2]

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Sources

The events of Kate's life were witnessed by Allan Harl Thomas and extracted from Kate Robertson Smith's Obituary printed April 29, 2004, Dallas Herald.

• Kate Robertson Smith's Obituary printed April 29, 2004, Dallas Herald.

1. ↑ The Robertson Family - Pioneers, Private publication by Kate Robertson Smith
2. ↑ Entered by Allan Thomas, Saturday, August 17, 2013.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Allan Thomas for creating Robertson-3934 on 17 Aug 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Allan and others.