Cyrus Rowlett “C.R.” Smith was born in Minerva, Texas on September 9, 1899. He was the son of Roy Edgeton Smith and Marion S. Smith. He attended the University of Texas from 1920 through 1924.
He was a public accountant with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company of Dallas, Texas, from 1921 to 1926. He became assistant treasurer of Texas-Louisiana Power Company with main offices at Fort Worth, Texas, in 1926. In 1929 he was named vice-president of Texas Air Transport, Incorporated, in Fort Worth.
He was appointed vice-president of American Airways, Incorporated, with offices at Fort Worth and St. Louis, Missouri, in 1930 and served in that capacity until 1934 when he became president of American Airways with offices in Chicago and New York. He held that position until April 13, 1942, when he was commissioned a colonel in the Army of the United States.
He was on special assignment as assistant to Major General Harold L. George, Commanding General of the Ferrying Command, Headquarters, Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., until July 1942, when the Ferrying Command became the Air Transport Command. He then became Chief of Staff of that command.
On October 31, 1942, he was promoted to brigadier general (temporary) and was named Deputy Commander, Air Transport Command, Headquarters Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., in July 1943. He was promoted to major general (temporary) on September 3, 1944.
On August 23, 1945, he was relieved from active duty to reenter private industry.
General Smith was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Air Medal, and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
(Up to date as 7 November 1945.)