Gilman Eugene "Gil" Smith, son of Julian Warner (1901-1975) and Sadie Luella (Alderton) (1905-1975) Smith, was born 28 September 1940, Battle Creek, Calhoun County, Michigan.   Gil's Lansing State Journal 5 September 2003 obituary stated he was born in Lansing, Ingham County but Gil's Social Security Application listed Battle Creek as his birth city.

Gil's father, Dr. Julian Smith, was the former "State Director of Athletics as well as chief of health, physical education and recreation for the Michigan Department of Public Instruction."  "He was professor emeritus at Michigan State University and a pioneer in the outdoor education movement." (quotes taken from Lansing State Journal Wednesday 25 June 1975 obituary of Dr. Smith)

Gil graduated in 1959 from Okemos High School.  In high school he showed artistic talent by gaining an honorable mention with a sculpture in the 1959 Youth Talent Show.  He also participated on the OHS wrestling team.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Friday 7 February 1958

OKEMOS LOSES MAT MATCH

Okemos high school dropped a wrestling match to Nashville high here Thursday evening, 36 to 18.  Scoring falls for the Chiefs were Gilman Smith, Mike Largent and Art Reese.

Gil graduated in 1966 with an art degree from Michigan State University.  He married, had one son, divorced and at one time was a teacher at East Lansing High School.  Gil died, age 62, 3 September 2003, Lansing.  He was interred Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing near his parents and a sister, Juliane (1937-1959), who had died suddenly in 1959.