James William ‘J.W.’ Smith Jr.
James William “J.W.” Smith Jr., 83, passed away Sept. 28, 2026. Born June 6, 1943, in Knoxville to James William Smith Sr. and Juanita Webb Smith, J.W. was beloved by family and friends around the world.
As a toddler, J.W.’s grandparents would take him for evening car rides to lull him to sleep. Instead of getting drowsy, J.W. would stand on the front seat, prop his hands on the dashboard and watch to see what was around the next bend or over the next hill. This curiosity set the course for J.W.’s life. His desire to discover what lay ahead took him to some of the Americas’ greatest adventure destinations.
J.W. began his outdoor career as a wildlife enforcement officer for the Tennessee Game and Fish Commission in Wartburg. On one occasion, J.W. tracked an out-of-season hunter. As the hunter walked past, J.W. flicked a Zippo lighter. The startled hunter threw up his arms and exclaimed, “Lord, don’t shoot me!”
J.W. later moved to Alaska, where he served as a fish and wildlife officer and trooper with the Alaska Department of Public Safety.
During his service, he helped investigate one of the largest illegal hunting cases in the department’s history and coordinated enforcement activities between Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory.
He later became a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Anchorage, Alaska.
He attended federal law enforcement academies in Washington, D.C., and Glynco, Georgia, where he earned an expert marksmanship designation.
Although the Secret Service attempted to recruit him, J.W. declined. He eventually left law enforcement to become co-owner and manager of an Alaska fishing and hunting lodge, followed by an Alaska wilderness fishing campout operation.
He later entered the outfitting business, becoming a partner in Rod & Gun Resources, where he booked and escorted hunting and fishing trips throughout North, Central and South America.
His outdoor adventures were featured in numerous books, sporting magazine articles and three nationally syndicated outdoor television shows.
One of the great perks of outfitting was the opportunity to take exploratory trips. J.W. explored remote rivers in Alaska, Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela and Colombia, often accompanied by guides who spoke no English.
During one adventure, he became stranded on an island off the coast of Mexico. Fortunately, his guide could climb trees to gather coconuts while J.W. caught fish for them to eat.
While exploring tarpon fishing opportunities in Honduras, J.W. met a local game warden who had no shoes. Before leaving, J.W. gave the man his sandals.
In Guyana, J.W. and his guide were recruited by local law enforcement officers to play the roles of drug smugglers during a training exercise. J.W. hid bags of sugar aboard their boat and sped away. When officers caught them, they were unable to find the hidden sugar.
In Alaska, J.W. explored countless rivers, hiked many miles, survived two small-plane crashes and encountered numerous grizzly and brown bears.
J.W. lived life on his own terms. His generosity with his time, his adventurous spirit and his determination defined him.
He and his wife, Dawn, shared 38 years of marriage filled with adventures. Together, they traveled to destinations near and far, meeting strangers who often became lifelong friends.
He’s off on his next great adventure, scouting the best fishing holes in heaven.
This caring and loving man is preceded in death by his father, James William Smith Sr.; and his brother, Richard Smith.
He is survived by the love of his life (as he was hers) Dawn Smith; mother, Juanita Webb Smith; son, Steven Smith and his wife, Linda; daughter, Crystal and her husband, Jeff; granddaughter, Kayla; brother, David Smith and his wife, Vicki; nephews, Dave and Mike; nieces, Windy, Kari and Treva; sister-in-law, Betty; niece, Kiesha, and her husband, Brian Dalton; and other family members, Jimmy and Melanie Cox, Mark and Jill Gilliand, Sarah and Sean Sweeney, Spenser Gilliand, Ben and Leann Gilliand, Lilly Gilliand, Tristan and Mercedes Livingston, Trinity, Tegan and Tayzlee Livingston, Curtis and Laura Hamlin, and Ailyn Hamlin.
The family will receive friends from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at Doe Valley Farm, 313 Stage Coach Loop, Mountain City, Tennessee.