Elvie Lawrence Smith (January 8, 1926, in Eatonia, Saskatchewan – August 4, 1999 in St. Lambert, Quebec)Elvie Lawrence Smith at the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame; retrieved September 11, 2023 was a Canadian aviation engineer known for his work with gas turbines, and for his time at Pratt & Whitney Canada.Elivie Smith, Former P&W Executive, Dies, at Aviation Week; published August 9, 1999; retrieved September 11, 2023
Education Smith attended the University of Saskatchewan, where he received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1947, and subsequently earned a master's in that field from Purdue University.Honorary degree citation – Elvie L. Smith, by T.S. Sankar; June 1983; at Concordia University; retrieved September 11, 2023
Career Smith began his career at the National Research Council, where he spent either five or seven Elvie Laurence Smith BEng, MEng at the University of Saskatchewan; retrieved September 11, 2023 years. In 1957, he joined Pratt and Whitney Canada as an Analytical Engineer. In 1958 or 1959, he was a Chief Project Engineer; in 1962 he was promoted to Engineering Manager; in 1966 he was vice-president of Engineering; and in 1970 or 1973 he was vice-president of Operations.
In 1978, he became Executive Vice President, and in March 1980, was appointed PresidentPratt & Whitney Aircraft Group Appointments: Donald C. Lowe, Elvie L. Smith, L. David Caplan, in The Globe and Mail; published March 11, 1980; p. B 3; and CEO, being further selected as Chairman of the Board in 1984. In 1987, he retired, but retained his seat on the board until 1994.
Personal life In addition to being an aviation engineer, Smith was himself a pilot (having earned his license while at Purdue), with a flight time of over 5300 hours in both powered and unpowered aircraft;Elvie Smith was CEO of Pratt & Whitney, in the Montreal Gazette; published August 6, 1999; p. C 12; retrieved September 11, 2023 as well, three of his four children became commercial airline pilots.Had lifelong passion for aviation. Helped develop the gas-turbine engine for use in aircraft, by Karen Palmer, at the Globe and Mail; published August 9, 1999; p. A 13
Recognition In 1985, the Royal Society of Canada awarded Smith the Thomas W. Eadie Medal.Thomas W. Eadie Medal, at the Royal Society of Canada; published February 13, 2012; retrieved September 11, 2023 (via archive.org In 1992, he was inducted into the Order of Canada,Mr. Elvie Lawrence Smith, at the Order of Canada; retrieved September 11, 2023 and in 1993, he was inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. In 1997, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers awarded him the R. Tom Sawyer Award.
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