Rotorcraft
Evergreen’s Del Smith Dead at 84
What Smith began in Corvallis, Wash., with a single Hiller UH-12 helicopter in 1960 he rapidly built into a global colossus.
Evergreen founder Del Smith built a global company from a one-aircraft shop.
Evergreen founder Del Smith built a global company from a one-aircraft shop.

He was one of the most colorful characters in commercial aviation. Delford M. Smith’s life literally began as a train wreck. It ended 84 years later on November 7 at his Dundee, Ore. home with the remains of his once billion-dollar Evergreen Aviation empire sold off, shut down, in bankruptcy and under investigation by tax authorities. Smith had been an active participant in his companies through the end of last year but had been in ill health for some time.


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