Auctioneer Ira Smith, a Mooreland native, is the 28th member to be inducted into the Oklahoma State Auctioneers Association (OSAA) Hall of Fame.

“In May, I will celebrate being an auctioneer for 30 years,” Smith said.

The News recently visited with Smith about how he became an auctioneer and his career that ultimately led him into the OSAA Hall of Fame.



A COLLEGE DECISION

Smith was attending college at Oklahoma State University planning to major as a pre-med veterinarian.

“During my second year in college, my friends came up to me and said we’re going to auctioneer school here on the campus,” he said.

They invited Smith to tag along.

After attending the auctioneer class in the spring of 1982, Smith decided he no longer wanted to train to be a veterinarian because he had found a new passion.

“I fell in love with it,” Smith about auctioneering.  

Smith said he fell in love auctioneering because of "the ability to help people."

"Let's say a loved one comes in after a relative passes away or someone retires, and they are wanting to sell their personal belongings and I am able to help them handle that sale," Smith said, noting "I enjoy helping people, that is what motivates me (in my job)."

After completing auctioneer school, it didn’t take Smith long to find work.

“A local auctioneer heard about me and asked me to come help him,” he said.

Smith would go on to get his real estate license from OSU in 1983 and graduated from OSU in 1985 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture science.



STARTING HIS OWN COMPANY

Smith returned to Mooreland and formed Smith & Company in 1987.

“I borrowed $1,500 from the Bank of Woodward and bought a used desk, 2 word processors and rented a building in Mooreland for $55 a month,” Smith said.

However, despite having his own business, Smith had to work an additional job.

“I held another job when I first started (Smith & Company), because I didn’t have many auctions and they were mostly on the weekends,” he said.

Smith said over the years the company “just grew from there” and was eventually renamed Smith & Company Auction & Realty, Inc.

In 1997, the auction company relocated to another office in Mooreland at 124 S. Main St., where it remained until 2011, when Smith moved his business to Woodward to be more centrally located.

Smith said the company does all kind of auctions.

“We do land, estate sales, oil and gas mineral rights,” he said.

Smith said he also does a farm machine and heavy equipment auction every 3 months in Mooreland.

“That is for farmers who don’t have enough machinery for their own auction so they can bring to this auction,” Smith said.

He said most of his auctions take place in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

Smith said he does anywhere from 80 to 100 auctions a year with about 18 of them being FFA and 4-H auctions for several schools in Northwest Oklahoma.

To help get prepared for an auction, Smith said he often practices in his car.

“I run the numbers while I drive, and I’m sure people think I am crazy as they pass me, because it looks like I am taking to myself,” Smith said laughing.



HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Smith didn’t learn about his OSAA Hall of Fame induction until the annual State Auctioneers Convention in Oklahoma City on Saturday Feb. 4, 2012.

“I was doodling on a piece of paper and the guy starts reading what this auctioneer has done and I was thinking to myself this guy has done some of the same things I have done. I looked at my wife (Cathy), she smiled (at me) and looked away,” Smith said.

After being announced as the auctioneer that was being inducted into the 2012 hall of fame, Smith said, about 35 friends and family members showed up to give him a standing ovation.

Smith said being inducted into the half of fame was “pretty humbling,” because there “are big name auctioneers from all across Oklahoma in it.”

Smith said he received a personal plaque for being inducted.

“I was also given a traveling plaque that will hang in the office for one year,” he said.



SMITH’S FUTURE AS AN AUCTIONEER

Smith has no plans of slowing down as an auctioneer.

“I will do it until the day I die. I love what I do,” Smith said.

Smith loves his job because of the people he gets to work with, he said.

“I love what I do, because I can help someone who is looking for a house or someone who wants to have an auction,” he said.

Smith said he is always excited to go to work.

“When I come to work, I am always smiling, whistling or singing,” he said.



OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In addition to being inducted into the hall of fame, Smith has an impressive list of accomplishments and offices held.

These accolades include:

• Past president and board member of OSAA

• Member of both the state and national association of auctioneers.

• Recipient of the Black Jacket Award during the Woodward District Premium Livestock Show in 2011.

• Voted Best of the Best Auctioneer every year from 2001 through 2011.

• Received the 2010 High Plains Technology Partners for Progress award.

• Served as Woodward Industrial Foundation Chairman of the Board for 2 years.

• Currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Woodward Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Woodward Hospital Board.

Smith also participates in several auctions held by community groups including the Mid-Day AMBUCS, Northwest District National Rifle Association, OSU Posse Club, Woodward Chamber of Commerce, and local high school prom committees.