Industry pioneer John Smith passed away on April 15, 2026.

Smith was a legend whose contributions to the field are too numerous to name in their entirety. He was affectionately referred to by his peers as "The Colonel."

His career began after he served ten years in the Air Force in the mid-sixties. He worked with several major publishers, and was one of the first editors of their flagship magazine.

By far, his most significant contributions came in the realm of product design. Smith founded Acme Industries in 1974. He was the first to create polyhedral products for the domestic market.

In 1986, he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Later on, in 2022, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Smith was 91 years of age at the time of his passing.