Journalist
Aviator

Though everybody knew her as Alma, Alma Gallagher Smith was actually born as Mary Alma Gallagher Smith. She is a member of the Class of 1936, and was involved in the school newspaper, The Lakonian, as Editor-in-Chief during all her years at Laconia High School. Alma went on to attend Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. When she graduated from college, she returned home in 1940 to join the staff of The Evening Citizen newspaper as a full-time reporter. Alma’s father, Edward J. Gallagher, is the founder of the Evening Citizen, the local newspaper at the time. This continued to be a family affair for many years. Alma worked with the publication and took over publishing duties when her father passed away in 1978. With her husband, Lawrence J. Smith, Alma continued ownership and day-to-day management of the Evening Citizen until shortly before her passing in 1991 when the newspaper was sold. 

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 In 1941, a civilian pilot training course was offered at Laconia High School in preparation for World War II defense. This sparked an interest in Alma that ended up lasting a lifetime. She became an instructor in the Navy’s V-12 pilot training program at Dartmouth College during the war, and brought her expertise to our local Laconia Airport to train many residents to fly as well. In a male-dominated field, Alma was very well respected as a pilot. She was even the first pilot to fly solo out of the Laconia Airport, and the first female in New Hampshire to obtain a pilot’s license. 

Alma Gallagher Smith was a well-respected Journalist and Aviator, but was better known as a friend to most. Not only was she active in the newspaper industry for more than 60 years, she was also an important member of the community that made an impact on everyone she met. She participated in various organizations, including The Laconia Chapter of the American Association of University Women, a member of the Laconia Historical Society, Director of The Belknap Mill Society, and a strong supporter of both the Salvation Army and The Streetcar Company. For her efforts, she was awarded the Laconia Business and Professional Women’s Club “Woman of Achievement” award, and the James Irwin Sr. Award for community service along with her husband. Alma Gallagher Smith made an impact in many different ways, and found the things she was passionate about. A renowned journalist, pilot, and community leader, Alma is someone that Laconia should be very proud of.