W.D. Smith (William David) was an educator. He was born on 15 March 1896 in Colfax, Louisiana to Rev. Lorenza Smith and Peggy Ware Smith. On 13 November 1938, he married Mary Eleanor Baker. He served in the United States Army during World War I including overseas duty. While a student, he worked as a porter on trains. Smith received his B.S. at Southern University and his M.A. from Columbia University. He furthered his studies at Hampton College and Stanford University, where he worked on the Committee for the Improvement of Curriculum Development.

His educational career started as a teacher in Lafayette Parish Public Schools. In 1938 he became principal of Vermilion Street School which evolved into the Lafayette Parish Training School, later called Paul Breaux High School in Lafayette. For many years this was the only school for African Americans in Lafayette. He retired in 1967.

Smith belonged to many organizations including the National Education Association, Louisiana Teachers Association, Southwest Male Principals Association, National Retired Teachers Association, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and Prince Hall Mason Order. He was active in Good Hope Baptist Church, where he served on the board of deacons and taught adult Sunday School classes. He died 3 March 1977 and is buried in Good Hope Cemetery, Lafayette.