Leroi "Tex" Smith, RIP

[Zapato]

Just read on the HAMB that Leroi Tex Smith passed away. Had the pleasure to meet him years ago at the Portland Swap Meet. He and Ron Ceridono were selling among a lot of other things his many ''how to build'' books. The both of them together were hilarious to hear. Quite a pair those two. With Tex everyone was a friend, and he treated everyone that walked up as if he'd known them forever. Which was interesting as after years of reading hundreds of his articles and books was how I felt about him. Can't even imagine how our hobby would be like today if Tex hadn't been around to inspire a couple of generations.

Godspeed Tex, you are missed...........

Zap-

[Jeff Norwell]

wonderfully said.RIP.

[JPotter57]

Tex Smith, Bill Burnam, and Gray Baskerville are the ones that influenced me the most as far as automotive writing goes.  I just wish that i had pursued it educationally, as I truly do love writing, just doesn't pay the bills as well as what I do for a living.  RIP, Tex, probably the last of the old school greats.

[Jeff Norwell]

Yea,I remember when Bill passed. Gray was a hero to me,got to speak with him once.

[RICH MUISE]

One of the unfortunate aspects of just getting into the whole car thing less than 10 years ago....I feel like a rookie basketball player who doen't know who Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain are. Reading about these guys, especially on the Hamb, when their time comes up has been very enlightening for me. Unfortunatly with our average ages, it seems to be nearly a daily occurance. The amazing thing to me is most of the long distance relationships the early hotrodders frequently had going were being done long before the age of instant communication.

[Jeff Norwell]

Ron Ceridono and Tex were very close.I believe they were pretty close.My pal Brian Brennan was very close to Tex,Bought his home from Tex.Ron and Brian are quite a pair when I get to see them in Pomona.Funny,these guys you think will be around forever.When Norm(Grabowski) passed a few years ago it really did hit me kinda hard.I had known Norm since the mid 90's,we became friends and man,he was a character.
Anyhow,Tex was sure loved by so many people.