An Aviation Life: Dedication to Del Smith

Some people are destined to reach their dreams while others are meant to reach heights not seen before. Evergreen International founder Delford Smith fit into both those categories.

Over the course of his six decade career he lived and breathed aviation through immense adversity. A product of poverty, Smith worked hard to build his company from the ground up through any means, funding his education through trades such as crop-dusting, eventually becoming a pilot in the United States Air Force.

After founding Evergreen in 1960 to serve Oregon’s many timber companies, Smith went on to expand the business into search and rescue work and eventually a full-fledged cargo airline in 1975.

Before his passing, in a comment on his accomplishments, he was quoted as saying, “I think fame and fortune are false values. I don’t think anybody should take credit for what they have accomplished. I think you’re a product of all the people who have helped you along the way.”

Covert Travelers Remembers, Delford "Del" Smith