Big Name in Terre Haute Banking, Racing Dies
A Wabash Valley businessman well-known in the banking and racing communities has died. The Tribune-Star in Terre Haute reports that Don Smith passed away Saturday at the age of 90. Smith retired as chief executive officer of Terre Haute-based First Financial Corp. (Nasdaq: THFF) and also served as director of competition at the Terre Haute Action Track from 1951 to 1980.
The publication says Smith established First Financial Corp. as the holding company of the former Terre Haute First National Bank in 1983 and it would soon become the state’s first multi-bank holding company. First Financial now has banking locations throughout Indiana and Illinois.
Smith and fellow Terre Haute businessman Chapman Root launched Su-Mar Racing in the early 1950s and a historical marker honoring Smith’s accomplishments and the Action Track was unveiled by the Indiana Racing Memorial Association in 2015.
Funeral arrangements are still pending for Smith.