Clyde Smith was born March 11, 1921 in Keachie, Louisiana, one of ten children born to Grover Cleveland Smith and Mamie (Porter) Smith. After the death of his mother in 1936, a cousin invited Clyde to help him run a farm in Oktaha, Oklahoma. While working he attended school and graduated from Dubois High School in Summit, Oklahoma. Clyde married his college sweetheart, Nancy Scruggs, in Oktaha on June 1, 1947. They shared 66 years of marriage and were blessed with three children, seven grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren and ten great-great grandchildren. Clyde was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army with the 149th Port Company on Okinawa. He could still recall the sound of the Japanese bomber aircraft and seeing a torpedo come within 20 feet of his ship. Comfort came to Clyde during the war by way of reading the small Army issued Bible, in particular the 23rd Psalm. Clyde read it cover to cover and has kept it with him to his dying day. He received the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, American Theatre Service Ribbon and Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Ribbon with one battle star. Clyde completed an accounting program and graduated from the American Business and Technical Institute of Tulsa in 1949. He worked for 28 years at Southern Hills Country Club retiring in 1977 as head waiter. Clyde was the oldest living member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he recalled reciting the Edgar Allen Poe poem "Annabel Lee" to the church ladies club. Clyde was a member of Pyramid Lodge No 69, Master Mason, Freemason and The Shriners. Clyde's hobby was fishing. He loved music, both jazz and religious music. His favorite holiday was Christmas when his wife Nancy would cook a table full of good food and plenty of desserts before having a houseful of family and friends over. Clyde says he has seen many memorable changes during his life, including the assassination of John F. Kennedy; the Civil Rights Movement; Martin Luther King and his assassination; and the unimaginable, the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.
Clyde Smith, Sr. was inducted into the CENTENARIANS OF OKLAHOMA HALL OF FAME on the occasion of his 100th birthday celebration. At that time he shared these words of wisdom and advice: "Get A Good Education"! Clyde's Centenarian file will be sent to the Oklahoma Historical Society to become a permanent part of Oklahoma History.

- Biography courtesy of Centenarians of Oklahoma
- Provided by Findagrave Contributor: Peggy Barnett