Harold E. Smith

Harold E. Smith of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on January 14, 2025. He was born on October 23, 1937, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A celebration of Harold’s life will be held at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Monday, January 20, 2025, also at the funeral home. Burial will be held at Glendale Cemetery.

Harold was the son of Elgie Mae and Harold J. Smith. He grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa attending McKinley High School, and was then the first member in the family tree to attend college, choosing the University of Iowa and receiving, in 1960, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. While jumping hurdles and bouncing basketballs in high school, Harold was unprepared for the challenge of college - working three jobs, spending most weekends back home, and taking five years to graduate, all of which taught Harold the value of perseverance and success. Harold graduated on Saturday, married his high school sweetheart, Helen Soukup on Sunday, and they both started jobs in Des Moines on Monday. They had a daughter, Dawn and two sons, Christopher and Casey.

Starting with the City of Des Moines Engineering Department upon graduation, Harold continuously built on his civil engineering training to develop a broad base of experience in all aspects of municipal public works practice. In 1971, after several promotions through the ranks of the City Engineering and Public Works Departments, and at age 33, he was appointed City Engineer and Chief Civil Engineer for the City of Des Moines. As one of the youngest City Engineers for a major city in America, Harold headed a department with some 325 employees and an operating budget of some $100 million per year. Harold served as Director of the 12 government Regional Wastewater Reclamation Authority and the Des Moines Storm Water Authority, both of which he had a key role in establishing. During his long career, Harold was directly responsible for over $1 billion of Capital Improvement Projects. His leadership and hands-on personal interest in quality design, value engineering exams, and construction are visually apparent in projects throughout the city including the Botanical Center, Convention Center (now the YMCA), City Parking Garages, Airport Improvements, Sec Taylor Baseball Stadium, and numerous Community Centers, Fire Stations, and the $165 million Regional Wastewater Facility.

Under Harold’s direction, the city’s infrastructure needs were identified and prioritized using subjective rating systems that were accepted by the general public and City Governments. He led efforts to obtain state legislation to give cities in Iowa the ability to construct sanitary sewers by utilizing hook-on fees and to be able to create city-wide Storm Water Utilities. Harold drafted, and had implemented, the first Erosion Control Ordinance in the state and directed and oversaw the drafting of a nationally recognized set of State Wide Urban Design and Construction Specification Standards now universally used throughout the State of Iowa. During Harold’s long career, he was appointed or elected to some 40 leadership positions and received numerous awards for achievements. He was extremely active in the American Public Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Academy of Environmental Engineers. Highlight honors included one of Top 10 Public Works Administrators in the United States, International President of the 27,000 member American Public Works Association, and having the new $3 million Regional Wastewater Authority Water Quality Laboratory dedicated in his name in honor of his dedication to area-wide planning and intergovernmental cooperation.

Harold and Helen raised a wonderful family and Christopher, Dawn, and Casey all were the pride of Harold’s boasting about their personal, family, and job accomplishments. Although Harold had demanding commitments, he made sure that plenty of time was made for trailer camping, family vacations to Florida, attendance at the children’s sporting events, swimming at Camp Dodge, and visiting family at Lake Delhi and Cedar Rapids, as well as trips to national Public Works Congresses all over the country.

Harold is survived by his wife of 65 years Helen Smith, daughter Dawn Roach (Jim) of West Des Moines, son Christopher (Crystal) of New Waverly, Texas, and son Casey (Sarah) of West Des Moines. He is also survived by his grandchildren Gretta (Christian) Beltran, Gabe (Toni) Smith, Abigail Roach, and Conner and Madeline Smith, great grandchildren Declan Beltran and Elliott Smith, sisters Shirley (James) Iverson and LoRee (Keith) Hora, and numerous family, nieces, and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials for Harold may be directed to the University of Iowa Engineering School. Online condolences can be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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