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MarkASmithFounderofJeepJamboreeUSAMarkA.SmithOff-RoadingInc.popularlyknownasthefatherofmodernfour-wheelingpassedawayMondayJune9.Hewas87.Bornin1926inGlobeArizonaSmithgrewupasthesonofaminingengineerineasternNevada.WhileservingintheMarineCorpsduringWorldWarIISmithfirstdroveaJeepthevehiclehewouldbeassociatedwiththroughouthislife.In1951SmithsettledinGeorgetownCalifornia.LookingforawaytoboostlocaltourismSmithandagroupoflocalboostersdevisedtheJeepersJamboreeademandingoff-roadexcursiontraversinganancientfootpathsoontobeknowntheworldoverastheRubiconTrail.Intimetheeventgrewintothelargestandbest-knownoff-roadeventinthecountry.In1982SmithtooktheJamboreeconceptnationwidefoundingJeepJamboreeUSAwhichoffersover30annualoff-roadtripsacrossthecountryexclusivelyforJeepowners.In1979SmithorganizedandledtheExpediciondelasAmericasa120-day20000mileoff-roadjourneyfromthesouthernmosttipofSouthAmericaatTierradelFuegotoPrudhoeBayAlaskaabovetheArcticCircle.ThishistorictripfeaturedatraverseofthevirtuallyimpassableDarienGapa103-milestretchofdensehostilejunglewhichtook30daystocross.TheExpedicionteamwasthefirstnon-militarygrouptocompleteavehicularcrossingoftheGap.Healsoorganizedandheadedthe1987CamelTrophyeventconsideredtobetheworldsmostdemandingoff-roadadventureinMadagascar.SmithslongofficialassociationwithJeepvehiclesbeganin1954whentheWillysCorporationthenthemanufac-turerofJeepsbegantheirsponsorshipoftheJeepersJamboree.TheaffiliationwiththeJeepbrandcontinuedintothepresentwithSmithhelpingtodeveloptheoff-roadcapabilitiesofJeepvehiclesforover60years.ThefourwheeldrivetestfacilityattheChryslerProvingGroundsaswellastestfacilitiesforlawenforcementagenciestiremanu-facturersandtheSevereOff-RoadTrackatQuanticoMarineCorpsBaseandover250otheroff-roaddemonstrationandtrainingcoursesweredesignedandbuiltbySmith.In1980SmithwasinductedintotheOffRoadMotorsportsHallofFame.In1986hisaccomplishmentswererecog-nizedbytheUnitedFourWheelDriveAssociationwhichnamedhimFourWheeleroftheDecadeandin1989SmithwasinductedasamemberoftheExplorersClubofNewYork.SmithwasalsoactiveintheciviclifeoftheSierraFoothillsregionofCaliforniaservingasSherriffofEldoradoCountyandspearheadingtheplanningandconstructionoftheGeorgetownandLakeTahoeairports.SmithissurvivedbyIrenehiswifeof63yearsandhischildrenRobertPattiGregandJillthreegrandchildrenandtwogreatgrandchildren.