Memorials › Stanley Steven Smola Jr
Stanley Steven Smola Jr
20 Nov 1940 – 8 Aug 2014
| Birth | 20 Nov 1940 |
| Death | 8 Aug 2014 |
| Cemetery | Kingfisher Cemetery Kingfisher , Kingfisher County , Oklahoma , USA |
| Added by | N. Dale Talkington on 11 Aug 2014 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/134228210 |
Bio
S. Steven Smola was born November 20, 1940, in El Reno, OK to parents, Stanley S. Smola and Neva Jones Smola. He died Friday, August 8 at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital, surrounded by his family. He grew up in Kingfisher, OK with his sister, Joyce Smola Brown; and brothers, Gary and Ronald. Growing up, he was very involved in showing award winning sheep through FFA and played football at Kingfisher High School, where he graduated in 1959. He was later inducted in to the Kingfisher High School Alumni Hall of Fame for his achievements later in life. Steven married Barbara Schoelen on September 1, 1962, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Kingfisher, OK. They had six children, Brenda Smola-Foti (Frank), of Portland, OR; Marilyn Smola Greene (Colin), of Baltimore, MD; Shelly Smola Harper (Perrin Scudder), of Dallas, TX; Dr. Angela Smola Shepardson (Jason), of Edmond, OK; Michael Smola (Julie), of St. Louis, MO; and Christopher Smola, deceased. His grandchildren include Daniel and Katherine Harper, Dallas, TX; Brennan and Colby Shepardson, Edmond, OK; Benjamin, Grace, and Caroline Smola, of St. Louis, MO; and Tess and Eva Greene, of Baltimore, MD. He was preceded in death by son, Christopher; his brother, Gary; and his parents. Steven attended Oklahoma State University and graduated in 1964 with a degree in agronomy. He began his career at Wheeler Brothers Grain Co. in Watonga, OK, where he worked until his retirement after 37 years. Early in his career as a soil specialist, he was instrumental in teaching area farmers the best use of fertilizer to increase crop yields. He went on to build and manage Wheeler Brothers Feedlot and ultimately became CEO of that company. During his tenure as CEO, he orchestrated the purchase of a defunct short-line railroad, now known as AT&L Railroad Company, in order to reduce the cost of shipping wheat to market. Steven was very active in several state and national organizations, serving in many positions. He was President of the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association in 2002-2003. He served as chairman and on the Board of Directors of various committees for the National Cattlemen's Association, the Oklahoma Beef Council, Texas Cattle Feeders Association and the State Board of Agriculture. He was a life member of Oklahoma State University Agriculture Alumni Association, Oklahoma Railroad Association Director, Union Pacific Railroad Short-line Development Advisory Committee, Fort Reno USDA Research Station Advisory Committee and served on the OSU College of Agriculture Sciences and Natural Resources Deans Advisory Committee. He served on the Watonga City Council, Watonga Hospital Board and the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church Parish Council of which he was a member for 40 years. Steve moved to Oklahoma City in 2004, where he lived until his death. A Wake will be held at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Kingfisher, OK, on Tuesday, August 12 at 7 p.m. followed by a Funeral Service on Wednesday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m. with Interment to follow at Kingfisher Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorials be made to the Chris Smola Literary Fund at the Watonga Public Library, 301 N Prouty Watonga, OK 73772, (580-623-7748). Published in The Oklahoman on Aug. 12, 2014
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