At the core the of the Smith Muffler story stands Lew, a man molded by early experiences of hardship and scarcity. These challenges ingrained in Lew from an early age the importance of resilience, commitment and hard work.

Lew grew up helping his father at Smith Auto Parts, laying the foundation for what would become Smith Muffler. But fate had other plans; in 1952, Lew was drafted into the U.S. Army and deployed to Germany during the Korean War. Two years later, he returned to find the family business teetering on the brink of collapse.

Undeterred, Lew threw himself into the fray, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, seven days a week. His unwavering determination, coupled with a keen business sense, became the driving force behind the company's revival. Lew was confident and unafraid to take risks or tell you exactly what he thought.

In 1961, Lew married Marilyn Jean Hall, and together they raised two sons, Alan and Mike. Despite the demands of family life, Lew's commitment to the business never faltered. Plans for expansion took shape in late 1965, and by the following year, the iconic Smith Muffler shop stood proudly at the corner of 5th and Main, referred to by the Smith family as “home plate.”

With six garage doors and ten service bays, the shop embodied Lew's vision—a testament to his dedication and foresight. Operating six days a week from 8am - 5pm, Smith Auto Parts became an establishment that customers came to trust. By the mid 70s, the exhaust business boomed as exhaust systems were not built to last. As a result of the increasing demand for new exhaust, in 1976 Lew changed the business name to "Lew Smith Muffler and Parts.” After Lew’s death in 2014, Mike purchased Alan’s share of the business. Since the beginning of 2015, the shop is run and managed by Mike and Sandy Smith along with their three sons - Lewie, Tommy, and Charlie.