Wayne Smith was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and educated at Myers Park High School and the University of North Carolina. He served in the US Air Force. He was a sales manager and later vice president of E.J. Smith & Sons Co., then president, chairman, and CEO of Smith Turf & Irrigation. He served on advisory boards and committees in the turfgrass industry. He served on the USGA Green Section Committee, the North Carolina Gold Panel, and was a commercial member of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association, where he received the Distinguished Service Award. He was chairman of the board of the Children's Theater of Charlotte, president of the Sportsman's Club of Charlotte, council vice president of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of directors of the North Carolina Hall of Fame, served as a deacon in the Presbyterian Church, and was on the board of directors of the UNC Charlotte Athletic Foundation. He also served on a number of community organizations. Married to Indun Patrick, Wayne has two daughters and five grandchildren.
