Billy Ray Smith passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on October 10, 2026, after a brief battle with cancer. A Bowling Green native, politician, award-winning farmer and agribusiness advocate, Billy Ray was beloved by his family and friends and a respected servant leader in the agriculture community of Kentucky.
William Ray Smith was born on April 5, 1944, to Leslie Eugene and Evelyn Stahl Smith. He grew up as a fourth-generation farmer and cattle breeder. After graduating from Western Kentucky University in 1965 with a degree in agriculture, he managed Pan American Mills, a grain elevator and livestock feed manufacturing company, for nearly 30 years.
As an elected official, Billy Ray was best known for his ability to build rapport with those on both sides of the aisle and his strong advocacy for agriculture and agribusiness in the state of Kentucky. He first served in the Kentucky House of Representatives representing Warren and Simpson Counties from 1982 to 1995. As a State Legislator, he served on the Agriculture Committee and as Chairman of the Banking and Insurance Committee.
In 1995 and again in 1999, Billy Ray was the first person in Kentucky history to be elected to two consecutive terms as Commissioner of Agriculture. His service in this role left a record of practical, lasting programs impacting Kentucky agriculture. He championed the disbursement of the 1998 Tobacco Settlement to fund and transform Kentucky agriculture, preserving thousands of farmland acres and creating the foundation for the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF), a program that has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to help local farmers diversify away from tobacco production. During his time in office, he broadened Kentucky’s agricultural product marketing to a worldwide base. He also strengthened the relationship between agriculture and economic development through the establishment of programs such as the Kentucky Proud program, the state’s official agricultural marketing brand that promotes Kentucky-grown and produced products. Similarly, he developed the Farm and Home Safety Program to significantly reduce the rate of Kentucky’s farming-related deaths. The Ag in the Classroom Program was created under his leadership, as was the Ag Tag Program. All these initiatives continue to positively impact the Commonwealth today.
During his service as Commissioner of Agriculture, Billy Ray was president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) and of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). He was also inducted into the Western Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2001, and he was in the inaugural class of the Warren County Public Schools Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2013. He received numerous awards and recognitions including Progressive Farmer Man of the Year and Distinguished Rural Kentuckian in 2013.
From 2005 to 2013, he served as the Executive Director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation, a role he valued deeply as a former State FFA Officer and lifelong advocate of agricultural education. During his tenure, philanthropic giving to the Foundation increased significantly. This prolific growth led to the largest single gift to an FFA Foundation in the nation.
He also served multiple terms on the Board of Directors for the Kentucky State Fair and Exposition Center (Kentucky Venues) and served on the Board of Trustees for Campbellsville University.
Because of his strong faith in Jesus, Billy Ray was active in church leadership and service throughout his entire life. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years, providing Christian mentoring to young men and families along with his wife Sandra. His family was among the founding members of Living Hope Baptist Church, and he was an active member of First Baptist Church of Bowling Green for the past 45 years. He succeeded his father in serving as the Clerk/Treasurer of the South Central Baptist Association for the past 13 years.
In his retirement from public service, he enjoyed continuing his work farming and breeding cattle, spending time with all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and staying involved in his community at First Baptist Church. He was an avid Western Kentucky University football and basketball fan and could be found cheering for the Hilltoppers with his family at most home games. He also loved watching the Kentucky Wildcats and the Cincinnati Reds. His friends and family will tell you he never met a stranger, and that he consistently encouraged everyone around him both personally and professionally.
In addition to his parents, Billy Ray was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Sandra Kay Simpson Smith, and his brother, Larry Smith.
Billy Ray is survived by four children, Cindy Crume (Gene), Kelly Smith (Kristin), Heather Ragan (Chris), and Leslie Carter; sixteen grandchildren, Allie Hacherl (Grant), Gene Crume III (Mika), Emma Seaford (Stephen), Madeline Smith, Caden Smith, Olivia Smith, Hope Smith, Ella Smith, Leah Smith, Joel Smith, James Ragan, Sam Ragan (Hannah), Anna Birge (Dalton), William Carter, Caroline Carter and Smith Carter; four great-grandchildren, Benjamin Ray Hacherl, James Seaford, Caleb Seaford and Haven Seaford; one sister, Ellen Kay Smith Alexander (Jerry); step-mother, Wilma Smith; an aunt, Betty Stahl, and uncle, Norman Stahl; a sister-in-law, Pat White (Jimmie); and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Billy Ray is also survived by his wife, Jane McLellan Thomas Smith; her children, Lee Thomas (Brande), Mark Thomas (Tracy) and Beth Alagna (A.J.), and step-grandchildren Libby Claire Thomas, Annabelle Thomas, Sydney Thomas, William Thomas, Kane Alagna and Knox Alagna.
Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church of Bowling Green on Friday, October 16, from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 3:00 p.m. A private burial will follow at the Barren River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Bowling Green, the Kentucky FFA Foundation, or the College Heights Foundation at Western Kentucky University.
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