Smith designated his son, Wallace B. Smith as his successor in 1976, and on April 5, 1978 he became the first president of the church to retire to "emeritus" status — all previous presidents had served until their deaths.
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In 1958, instead of calling Lynn Smith to replace his father in the office of Presiding Patriarch, W. Wallace Smith named Roy Cheville to the office, in a break with an RLDS traditional doctrine of lineal succession.
W. Wallace Smith (1900–1989), Prophet-President of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Will Smith | Kevin Smith | Adam Smith | Smith College | Patti Smith | Michael W. Smith | William Wallace | Chad Smith | Wallace Stevens | Ian Smith | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Anna Nicole Smith | Kiki Smith | Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby | Alexander McCall Smith | Stan Smith | Tommie Smith | David Smith | Bessie Smith | Roger Smith | Maggie Smith | Kate Smith | George Wallace | Fort Smith | Al Smith | Paul Smith | John Smith | Charles Kingsford Smith | Alias Smith and Jones | W H Smith |
When W. Wallace Smith retired and was succeeded by his son Wallace B. Smith in 1978, Wallace B. Smith selected Couey and Howard S. Sheehy, Jr. to be his counselors in the new First Presidency.
That tradition was discontinued in 1958 when RLDS Church President W. Wallace Smith, a grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr., presented Roy Cheville as a successor to Elbert A. Smith.