Rankin M. Smith Sr.

Smith was born October 29, 1924, in Atlanta, Georgia. The hospital where he was born later became part of Atlanta Stadium. He attended North Fulton High School. Following high school, he spent one year at Emory University, then transferred to the University of Georgia. Following graduation he began working as an executive at Life Insurance Company of Georgia. He ascended to the position of president and chairman of the board in 1970. He stepped down from the board in 1976 due to his "other business interests", but reportedly he was pushed out due to his problem with alcohol. He retired in 1978. Smith was married twice. First, to the former Miriam "MeMe" Wellman (1945–1974) with whom he fathered five children: Rankin, Carroll, Dorothy Ann, Taylor and Karen. These five were the genesis behind the corporate name of the Atlanta Falcons Football Club, The Five Smiths, Inc. In 1976, he married Charlotte Topping, the widow of former New York Yankees owner Dan Topping. He died on October 26, 1997, from complications resulting from heart failure. ==Purchase of the Atlanta Falcons==

In 1965, the unexpectedly successful American Football League wanted to expand to Atlanta. Smith, then an executive vice president at the Life Insurance Company of Georgia, was awarded an AFL franchise, but reneged on his agreement when the older National Football League offered him a franchise. He paid $8.5 million on June 30, 1965, for an NFL team based in Atlanta. Two years later, the Falcons reached Super Bowl XXXIII. The team was later sold to Arthur M. Blank in 2002 for $545 million. On Interstate 985 in the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Exit 12, for Spout Springs Road, leads to the Atlanta Falcons training complex in Flowery Branch and is named in Smith's honor. ==Philanthropy==

Smith was extremely generous and made significant donations to causes in and around Atlanta, a tradition his estate continued after his death. He was a major contributor to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. In addition to making individual contributions, he led a fundraising drive which raised $43 million In 1985 Smith founded the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation. It provides grants to non-profit organizations across Georgia, focusing on programs which benefit children. Following his death, three of Smith's children (Rankin Smith Jr., Dorothy Smith Knox, and Taylor Smith) donated $3.5 million to the University of Georgia Athletic Association in his memory. The donation was a major component of the University's “Investing in Champions” initiative. In recognition of the donation the university named the major building built under the program, a student-athlete academic center, after Smith. ==References==