| History of Robert K. Smith |
| ROBERT K. SMITH WAS BORN IN 1914 IN NARBETH, PA AND LIVED IN MONTCLAIR, NJ. HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA IN 1937. AS A YOUNG BACHELOR, R.K. WORKED IN SHANGHAI, CHINA, MANAGING THE OFFICE FOR THE U.S. LIFE INSURANCE CO. HE RETURNED TO THE US IN 1939, MARRIED IN 1940 AND LIVED IN CHICAGO. R.K. JOINED THE O.S.S. IN 1942 AND RETURNED TO CHINA AS A SPY. WHILE THERE HE TRAVELLED EXTENSIVELY IN PARTS OF CHINA WHERE THERE WERE NO OTHER FOREIGNERS. R.K. THEN RETURNED TO THE STATES IN LATE 1944. AFTER THAT R.K. SMITH LIVED IN MEXICO CITY FOR 3 YEARS. ALSO WENT TO PARIS, FRANCE AND WORKED WITH THE MARSHALL PLAN. R.K. SMITH AND WIFE KATIE WENT TO DALLAS, TEXAS IN 1949, WHERE HE WORKED AS A SALES MANAGER FOR THE MACK TRUCKS COMPANY. THEN ON TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND AFTER THAT TO LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA. R.K. SMITH JOINED THE LA JOLLA REAL ESTATE BROKERS' SSOCIATION. INC. IN AUGUST, 1968 AND WAS NOMINATED TO RESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION DURING THE YEARS OF 1980, 1981 ND 1985. R.K. WAS ALSO BUSY ON THE REBA BOARD IN OTHER APACITIES AS WELL AS ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES. R.K. WAS A SUCCESSFUL REAL ESTATE BROKER AND WAS RESPECTED AND LIKED BY THE MEMBERS OF REBA. IT WAS A SAD DAY FOR REBA MEMBERS WHEN THEY LEARNED OF THE SUDDEN PASSING OF R.K. WHILE JOGGING ON THE BEACH IN LA JOLLA IN 1986. THE SAME YEAR OF 1986, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DECIDED TO DEDICATE A PLAQUE TO BE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO A DESERVING REAL ESTATE BROKER IN THE NAME OF, AND TO HONOR R.K. SMITH. |
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| 2006 recipient Karen K. Rockwell |
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At the November 9th, 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the La Jolla Real Estate Brokers' Association, Inc. (REBA) presented the R. K. Smith Broker of the Year Award for 2006 to Karen K. Rockwell, a member of the Willis M. Allen Co. The award is given to remember and honor R.K. Smith, one of La Jolla's prominent Real Estate Brokers, who passed away in 1986 while on his daily run at the La Jolla Shores Beach. Karen joins the prestigious list of Award recipients, three of which have worked for the Willis M. Allen Co. : Peter Guerrant in 1992, Andy Nelson in 2001 and Bud Clark in 2003.
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| 2005 recipient Naomi J. Klatt |
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At the annual shareholders meeting of the La Jolla Real Estate Brokers' Association, Inc. (REBA) held on Thursday, November 10, 2005 the prestigious R. K. Smith Broker of the Year Award was presented by Bud Clark of the Willis Allen Company to Naomi J. Klatt of Joseph Dean Klatt Realty, Inc. Naomi was recognized for her many contributions to the Real Estate profession. The award is presented to the REBA Broker or Broker/Manager no more than once a year to that person who best exemplifies the qualities of personal integrity, ethics, cooperation, dedication to the Real Estate profession and unselfish service given to this association in 2005. The award is given in the name of R. K. Smith because he exemplified the qualities the award represents. R. K. Smith was the first to be elected as REBA President for three terms. R. K. Smith served as REBA President in 1980, 1981 and 1985. R. K. Smith passed away in 1986 while he was on his regular daily run at La Jolla Shores beach. Naomi J. Klatt is the third R. K. Smith Broker of the Year Award presented to a Klatt Realty agent. In 1987 James M. Becker received the award and in 1991 Joseph Dean Klatt was awarded the honor. Naomi J. Klatt has been in the building and Real Estate business for many years. In the early 1960's with her husband (now deceased) she built many large homes in La Jolla including the famous Golden Tahitian in La Jolla Shores and the Mansfield and Katherine Mills home on Country Club Drive which was recently designated by the Historical Resource Board as site #702.
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