Ron Smith è nato a St. Louis nel 1949 ed oltre ad essere un campione di bridge e un discreto pianista è un Consulente Finanziario.

 Ron si appassionò al bridge guardando delle repliche televisive delle trasmissioni di Charlie Goren.

 Ron ha vinto più di una decina di NABC's (National American Bridge Championships), tra cui ricordiamo i Jacoby del 1993 e 1998, la Reisinger del 1987 ed il Wherner del 2001 ed il GNT del 1996.

 Ha anche vinto il Goldman Pairs del 2006 e l'argento nel Campionato Mondiale Transnazionale a Squadre Miste nel 2010.

 Lo si vede spesso giocare in coppia con giocatori giovani che cerca di indirizzare per il meglio.

Born in St. Louis in 1949, Ron's life was shaped by three unrelated attractions.  He is a celebrated musician, known mostly for his talent at the keyboard and at one time was a concert pianist.  He has also served as an Investment Advisor, but no one will ever be convinced that his first true love isn't bridge! 

Ron, by his own admission, says he "learned bridge from a series of mistakes."  Quite by chance, he watched some re-runs of the old Charlie Goren Championship Television Shows, got the book about the Series and found it fascinating reading.  That roused his interest and he was hot to trot!   His actual introduction to playing was unlike anyone else's story of how they broke into the game.  He laughingly confesses, "My sister, who was faced with the task of finding a boyfriend, had me playing in the local clubs and tournaments in St. Louis."   Don't know if his sister ever succeeded, but Ron's persona, modesty and achievements in the bridge world are recognized and admired.

His early partners included Norbert Kremer, Roger Lord, William Harvey and Ken Biand.  He won a Regional Pair with the then-sixteen year old Canadian Billy Cohen (son of former ACBL CEO) and the following day played with seventeen year old Bobby Levin and history found a way of repeating itself.  Back to back wins!. 

Ron sports six NABC titles, with twelve second place finishes and hosts of other titles. Ron won the Blue Ribbons in 1979 with Bobby Levin and the 1987 Reisinger Teams with Billy Cohen, Zia and Jaggy;  this win is among his fondest memories (and he emphasizes it was not necessarily about winning) because the '87 Reisinger Team boasted four different nationalities and had a team spirit comparable to none! 

Ron is a popular Bridge Professional and admits to just enjoying playing frequently -- probably three or four times a week and sometimes on line.  On his stays in San Francisco, if the opportunity presents itself, he makes it his business to play on Monday evenings at the Club Quick Tricks.  Ron has always taken an interest in Junior Bridge and its promotion and finds it both fun and rewarding to partner one of the juniors.