Willard John Smith (May 14, 1910 – April 1, 2000) served as the thirteenth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1966 to 1970. He was born in Suttons Bay, Michigan and was the son of Oscar Smith, a Captain in the U.S. Coast Guard and his wife, Emma Bequist. Upon graduation from high school in Charlevoix, Michigan, he entered the University of Michigan, but later transferred to the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. His wife, the former Harriet A. Lary died on February 2, 2000, two months before he himself died, aged 89 in Atlantic Beach, Florida.