Judge Marvin Hugh Smith's Obituary
Judge Marvin Hugh Smith of Easton, formerly of Federalsburg, MD passed away at Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge, on Monday, September 27, 2010. He was 94.
Judge Smith was born near Federalsburg, Maryland on August 10, 1916, the son of the late Charles H. Smith and Jeannette Brown Smith. . Judge Smith graduated from Federalsburg High School Class of 1933, Washington College in 1937, and the University of Maryland Law School in 1941. He was a recipient of an honorary L.L. D from Washington College in 1980 and was accorded Alumnus of the Year honors by the University of Maryland Law School in 1984. He was admitted to the Bar of the Court of Appeals of Maryland on October 7, 1941. He was inducted in the United States Army on November 18, 1941, and discharged there from on November 24, 1945. From March 1942 until the time of his discharge, he was a Special Agent of the U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps. He served in the early days of World War II in the Military District of Washington Detachment where he was Chief of the Review Section. There he supervised the preparation of all reports of Counter Intelligence investigations conducted by the Army in the Washington area. He later served as Chief of the Administrative Section of the 705th CIC Detachment (AAF) assigned to the Air Service Command in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as Chief of the Administrative Section. Thereafter, he was Chief of the Review Section of the 706th CIC Detachment (AAF) assigned to the Air Transport Command, at Washington, D.C. where he supervised preparation and review of all reports of counter intelligence investigations at Air Transport Command installations throughout the world. He was commended by the commanding officers of the 705th and 706th CIC Detachments for his work in those units. Judge Smith began the practice of law in Denton, MD in January 1946, and continued in general practice of law from that date to May 20, 1968, when he was appointed an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland. He retired on August 10, 1986. Pursuant to the Maryland constitutional provision authorizing the Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, with the approval of the majority of the judges of that Court, to recall and assign a judge to any court, for the first 18 years of his retirement Judge sat frequently in the appellate and trial courts.
In 1953- 1955 he was a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland for the enforcement of the Maryland Subversive Activities Act, known as the “Ober Law.” In 1952, he was a member of the Commission to Revise the Criminal Law of Maryland.
Judge Smith was long active in the Maryland State Bar Association where he twice served on what is now called Board of Governors. In 1963-1965, he was Chairman of its Committee on Clients’ Security Fund, the concept that lawyers owe a debt of honor to the public for the defalcations, other than malpractice, of its members. That concept received unanimous approval of the State Bar in 1965. Judge Smith was appointed as one of the Trustees of the Clients’ Security Trust Fund of the Bar of Maryland by the Court of Appeals in 1966 and there served as its chairman until his qualification as a judge of that Court on May 20, 1968. He took pride in the fact that Maryland was the first state to have a compulsory, state wide.
Maryland Bar Foundation in 1986 awarded Judge Smith its H. Vernon Eney Award for having demonstrated outstanding leadership in working to improve government and the administration of justice.
Judge Smith was long active in the Masonic fraternity. He became a member of Nanticoke Lodge No. 172, A.F. & A. M. in Federalsburg in 1938, serving as Worshipful Master in 1950. He was a member of a number of other Masonic organizations including Edenton Royal Arch Chapter No. 36 of Denton where he served as High Priest in 1954.
From 1950 until 1973, he was a member of the Committee of Grievance of the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Maryland. He served as Chairman of its Committee of By-Laws from 1973 until 1990 and as a Trustee of the Maryland Masonic Homes from 1993 to 1996. He was presented the Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award by Grand Lodge in 2002.
Judge Smith was a life member of Caroline Post No. 29, the American Legion, Denton, where he served as Adjutant 1946-1949, Commander 1949-1950, and Judge Advocate 1952-1968.
Judge Smith became a member of the Federalsburg Rotary Club on April 1, 1946. He served as its Secretary, 1947-1948, and as its President,1957-1958 and 1992-1993.
Judge Smith was an active member of the Union United Methodist Church in Federalsburg. His service there included as a Sunday School Teacher from 1948 until 1996, Chairman of its Administrative Board, Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Chairman of its Council on Ministries, Lay Leader, and for many years, Lay Member of the Peninsula-Delaware Annual Conference.
Judge Smith became the first Eagle Scout in Caroline County in 1934. His interest in Scouting continued over the years. In 1946, he organized what is now Cub Pack 137 in Federalsburg. He became a member of the Executive Board of Del-Mar-Va Council, Boy Scouts of America, in 1967 and was a member at the time of his death. He was President of that Council in 1971-1973. Judge Smith served as Scoutmaster of Troop 137 in Federalsburg from 1965-1973. He took particular pride in the number of Eagle Scouts produced for the time he was a Scoutmaster and an active assistant scoutmaster of that troop. Judge Smith was presented the Boy Scout Distinguished Eagle Award by Del-Mar-Va Council in 1975, that being the second such award made by
Del-Mar-Va Council.
Judge Smith is survived by his wife, Rebecca Groves Smith, whom he married on Feb. 21, 1942, and three children, Melissa Smith Barnes and her husband, Leo of Littlestown, PA, M. Hugh Smith, Jr. and his wife, Joanne of Denton, and Sarah J. Smith Pettegrew and her husband, John of Jacksonville, FL, eleven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Bernice Smith Dobson Hollsinger.
Funeral services will be held at Union United Methodist Church, in Federalsburg, on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 11 a.m. with Pastor David Heistand officiating. A viewing will be held on Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. at Framptom Funeral Home in Federalsburg, and from 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. Interment will follow Hillcrest Cemetery in Federalsburg with a Masonic Graveside Service and military honors. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the Endowment Fund of Union United Methodist Church, 301 N. Main St., Federalsburg, MD 21632.
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