NAHB Mourns the Passing of Past President David C. Smith
David Clark Smith, NAHB President for 1986, passed away Sunday at the age of 90.
Smith was born in rural Virginia and grew up on a farm in Maryland. After a stint in the Army National Guard, Smith built his first home for his wife and himself in 1953.
In 1959, he opened his own home building company, David C. Smith, Inc., a company that still does business as David C. Smith & Sons in Virginia.
During his career, Smith built some 1,500 homes, mostly in Maryland. He was very active in the NAHB Federation at the local level, serving as President of the Frederick County HBA, the HBA of Suburban Maryland, the Maryland HBA and the Metropolitan Washington Builders Council. He also founded the Upper Montgomery County Builders Association, which was unaffiliated with NAHB.
Once he engaged with NAHB at the national level, Smith was very active, serving as Maryland state rep and being elected President in 1986. He was inducted into the Housing Hall of Fame in 1992.
Smith was also politically active, meeting several U.S. Presidents during his career and winning an appointment from George Bush to the Federal Home Loan Bank Board of Atlanta.
A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024, at Obaugh Funeral Home in McDowell, Va.
Watch a brief clip below of Smith describing his career in his own words.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 27, 2026
Housing’s ‘Silver Tsunami’ Is Coming, But It Won’t Hit Every MarketThe so-called “silver tsunami” describes the wave of millions of homes expected to hit the market as older Americans increasingly decide to sell their properties. However, industry experts are noting that this “tsunami” isn’t landing where it’s needed most.
Membership
Apr 24, 2026
Blueprint to 100: Industry Pulse Check Launches May 1Blueprint to 100 is NAHB's initiative to build an association that better meets industry needs as we approach the 100th anniversary of our founding. The Industry Pulse Check — launching Friday, May 1 — is our first step in this initiative to gain the insights we need to build an association that meets your needs.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 23, 2026
The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed MostThe “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population.
Economics
Apr 22, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: February 2026February’s labor market data point to a notable pullback in employment, with job losses concentrated across a majority of states and only modest gains elsewhere. While January showed solid momentum, February’s decline reflects emerging softness in hiring conditions, alongside uneven performance across the country.
Economics
Apr 21, 2026
Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County Level in 2025U.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year. The deceleration was primarily driven by a sharp decline in net international migration (NIM), which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million, while natural change remained relatively stable.