C. Olen Smith, Jr. was born in Wilmington, North Carolina on September 11, 1954.  He is the son of Noble Charlie O. Smith and Jenny Smith.  Olen was influenced into becoming a Mason and Shriner by his father, who is still an active member of the Sudan Drum & Bugle Corps.

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After graduating from John T. Hoggard High School in 1973, he went to work for the EI Dupont Company and retired with 21 years service, after which he started his own business… East Coast Fire & Safety.

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Olen was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on September 29, 1992 in St. John’s Lodge #1 in Wilmington.  He became a certified Lecturer in 1996 and served as Master in 1999.  He crossed the hot sands and joined Sudan Shrine Temple in November 1992, later joining the Drum & Bugle Corp Unit in 1994.  Mr. Smith was appointed to serve on Sudan’s Divan as Outer Guard by then Potentate, Lloyd A. Tyndall in 1997.  Olen is also a member of Jester Court #145.  He was Potentate of Sudan in 2006.

Olen and his wife Bobbie live in Watha, North Carolina on their Penderella Farm where they raise and show Appaloosa horses professionally.  They have one son, Ernie Lane.  Bobbie is the daughter of the late Noble Melton Sellars and mother Bobbie Lou Sellars of Wilmington.  Olen has twin sisters Dona Smith of Columbia, SC and Sharon West of Wilmington and a brother Noble Mark Smith, also of Wilmington.