Broadmoor Homes’ Richard Smith Dies

Richard B. Smith, a builder whose Broadmoor Homes constructed more than 6,000 houses throughout Southern California and the rest of the state, died Saturday in Newport Beach. He was 76.

The son of a builder, Smith was born in Seattle and raised in Southern California.

He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a flight instructor and pilot, and graduated from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1947.

His career encompassed many jobs, including logging, sales and custom home building, until he founded Broadmoor Homes in the late 1950s, said Joe Martin of Martin Advertising Inc., who was Smith’s longtime friend and business colleague.

Smith’s first planned community was Fairview Homes in Tustin.

From there his company built Big Canyon and Sea View in Newport Beach, Turtle Rock and Woodbridge in Irvine, Broadmoor San Clemente, Broadmoor San Diego, La Jolla Village and Crow Canyon in Northern California.

He sold Broadmoor to Genstar in 1973, but managed the company until his retirement in 1981.

The Construction Industry Alliance of the City of Hope named Smith its builder of the year in 1978. The following year Professional Builder Magazine named him its national builder of the year. And he was inducted into the Home Builders Hall of Fame in 1983.

In addition to his work with numerous industry organizations, Smith served as a Tustin school trustee and as a city planning commissioner.

He was also president and a director of the Orange County chapter of the Boy Scouts of America, and the family asks that donations be made there in lieu of flowers.

Smith and his wife, Betty June, lived in Big Canyon for the past 20 years. In addition to his wife, Smith is survived by daughters Susan Neptune and Becky Walla, stepson Dennis Hughes, and six grandchildren.

A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Pacific View Memorial Chapel, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Newport Beach.