WACO, Texas (KWTX) - Walter S. Smith Jr., who served as Waco’s first full-time U.S. district judge for 32 years, died Friday. He was 84.

A memorial service for Smith will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church of Waco, according to the McLennan County Bar Association.

Smith, a Marlin native, graduated from Baylor University with a bachelor’s degree in 1964 and a law degree in 1966.

He was in private practice from 1966 to 1980 before being appointed judge of Waco’s 54th State District Court.

He served three years in that court in Waco until Judge George Allen defeated him in 1983.

He later served one year as a magistrate judge in Waco.

Smith was then appointed a U.S. district judge by President Ronald Reagan and took the new seat created in Waco in 1984.

He retire

See Full Page