W. L (Pat) Smith was born in Austin Texas to Virginia Holland Laird and Langston Smith in the old Seton Hospital. He was raised in Tarrytown and he attended a private kindergarten, then Pease Elementary, University Junior High, Schriener Military School and graduated from Austin High in 1954. Austin was a typical small town in Pat’s childhood, and he enjoyed living in Tarrytown (the country back then) where his family had some acreage.