Smith was born in 1909 in Spearfish, South Dakota,[2] and played scholastically at Gardena High School in Los Angeles.

[4] Smith played with the Southern California Maroons of the Pacific Coast Pro Football League (PCPFL) in 1934.

[4] In 1938, he left the pros to play for the Hollywood Stars of the PCPFL because this was closer to his home in Los Angeles.

After leaving to play in the minor leagues in 1938, he returned for a final season with the Green Bay Packers in 1939.

[8] In 2001, Athlon Sports named Smith to the All-Time USC Football Team as a defensive lineman.

He also was on the Rose Bowl Committee and was president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Football Foundation.