Eugene Smith began playing the trumpet when he came to Mintie White in the fourth grade.  This is also the time he joined the Boy Scouts Troop 599.  In his two years at Mintie White, three at E.A. Hall, and through his junior year at WHS, scouting and music occupied much of his time.  During his senior year music captured most of his time and attention.

   As a sophomore, Gene joined the Watsonville Band and traveled with them to Chicago and Montreal during the summer. What an experience for a sixteen year old!  Marching down Michigan Avenue, playing for the U.S. Secretary of State and performing at the World's Fair.

   The direction of his life changed when WHS got a new band director.  Mike Rubino showed them what bands could really do. It was during this time Gene decided to become a music teacher.

   After graduating from WHS in 1969, Gene went to San Jose State University (they had the only all brass college band west of the Mississippi River).  There are three teachers who Gene feels changed his life:  Bill Nicolosi who taught him to "Always Take Care of Your People"; Gail Royer who taught him what it takes to be "The Best At What You Do"; and Darrel Johnston who showed him just what "Music Education Is All About."  Gene graduated from San Jose State in 1977 and completed his teaching credential.  In 1978 he started his first and only job teaching in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.  He began teaching band on the "Junior High side" of Salsipuedes School and also at three elementary schools.  After four terrific years, he achieved the goal he'd set in 1969 - he became the band director at Watsonville High School.

    This was the hardest eleven years of his career, but also some of the best.  He helped to build on of the best high school programs in the area: concert bands that received "Excellent" and "Superior" ratings, marching bands that earned Sweepstakes awards in parade competition and - the capstone - placed Third in the state in our class in field competition!

   When cutbacks hit in 1993, Mr. Smith returned to E.A.Hall, teaching chorus and general music.  When the teacher hired for WHS quit just before school started that year, Gene returned to direct the band for 2 more years, in addition to E.A. Hall.

   Beginning in 1999, P.V.U.S.D. received substantial grants from the Packard Foundation for 5 years.  During that time, music was given to thousands of students in the district.  As Music Coordinator he guided the rebuilding of the music program.  He is now also teaching at E.A. Hall and WHS as well.

   Gene is an active member of CMEA, California Assoc. for Music Education; was named CCS Outstanding Music Educator of the Year for 1996; named Nationally Registered Music Educator by National Assoc. for Music Education, MENC, in 1992; was included in the MENC Walk of Fame in Washington D.C. in 2004; and has been a member of the Watsonville Band for 39 years, also serving as Assistant Conductor, Drum Major and President of the Board of Directors.

   Gene and his wife Kathy, also a graduate of WHS, Class of 1969, have 4 children; Anna lives in Salinas, Gene is a freshman (music major) at Fresno State,  Mark lives and works in Las Vegas and Colette works in San Francisco.