I have learned of the recent death of Miss Elizabeth C. Smith of Blandair farm, Columbia. We were friends for 29 years. I first met her in 1968 as a result of an article I wrote in the Constructive Conservative praising the concept of the planned city of Columbia. She wrote to me asking if I would like some first-hand information - the picture was not as rosy as it might seem at first blush. I accepted the invitation, and she took me to visit several people who had been harmed by the shameful and unethical behavior of some of the developers and the Howard County Commission. She was paying their legal fees as they sought justice.

Soon, she would become involved in legal battles concerning her own property, which continue to this day. She wanted to leave her farm, with a substantial endowment to maintain it, to the public as a green space; she did not want it "developed" for any reason. As she proceeded, it became clear to her that the developers and the Howard County Commission had engaged in even more shameful and unethical behavior. Instead of planning to use land purchased for development from willing sellers for infrastructure like roads, schools and other public purposes, the developers and the County Commission deliberately planned to build those facilities on the land of those who wanted to continue to farm or who, like Miss Smith, wanted to preserve some green space for future generations. If that were allowed to continue, Miss Smith reasoned, eventually there would be no farmland left between the east coast and the Mississippi River. Thus, she enlarged her battle.

A strong-minded individual, Miss Smith was a conservative in the most honorable of ways. She was an advocate of individual liberty and of individual responsibility. She saw the individual as responsible for treating his neighbor fairly and for coming to his neighbor's aid when needed. She was a strong advocate of the free-market system, but saw how it can be abused and distorted when not subject to the restraints of ethics.

As a farmer for 60 years, Miss Smith saw her role as a steward of the land. She engaged only in organic farming practices because she respected the environment. Because of the development of neighboring land, her farm has become the last refuge for many wild creatures, and she was happy to have them there. Her farm continues to be managed by Mr. James Douglas and Mr. Curtis Atkins. The legal documents to establish an endowed foundation to preserve her land in the way she wished were delivered to her the day before she died, but she died before signing them. Let us hope that Miss Smith's heirs will be as public spirited as she.

Miss Smith gave generous financial support to various charitable, conservative, and environmental causes throughout her life.

Miss Smith, your legacy is an honorable one. The world is a richer place for your having lived. Those who have had you as a friend have been blessed. You are missed.

Byron C. Hall, Jr.