W.A. Smith, known to his friends as Al was born in east Orange County and lived his entire life within a quarter of mile from the home in which he was born. He graduated from Orlando High School in 1948 and rode a motorcycle to school at the age of 14. He went on to achieve a BS degree in Animal Husbandry and Horticulture at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida in 1952.
He met the love of his life, Frances Waldon from Orange Springs (Marion County), and married in 1952. He built his home after he returned from the US Army and resided there for 70 years. He began playing a guitar and mandolin at an early age. Al was a successful rancher, orange grower and business and was well thought of in his community and his church.