Burns Dixon Smith, 73; He Had A Way With Any Kind Of Machine

If it was a machine - from a computer to a hydroplane to exercise equipment - Burns Dixon Smith could make it work.

But Smith was more than a handyman. He was an outdoorsman, family man and a doer.

Smith, 73, of Mercer Island, died Feb. 16 at Swedish Hospital after fighting prostate cancer. At his request, no funeral service was planned.

He was active in hydroplane racing in Seattle for 25 years; was instrumental in building the first machines developed by Precor Inc.; built skis, boats, and houses; and restored antique Packards.

Born April 12, 1916, Smith grew up in Seattle and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1934. He attended the University of Washington and competed in crew for a few years before joining The Boeing Co. and becoming a machinist.

He soon moved to IBM, where he would work for 32 years. He became a senior field engineer, a troubleshooter of sorts. For his last 10 years with the company, he taught employees how to solve problems in the field.

Smith was an avid water-skier and mountaineer and helped found the Penguin Ski Club at Stevens Pass. He built his first set of snow skis and met his future wife while on the slopes.

He and Margaret married in 1942 just before he entered the Navy during World War II. He had hoped to serve on a PT boat but wound up working with IBM equipment in the naval shipyard at Bremerton.

Smith's son, David, said his father dedicated much of his time from work between 1955 to 1980 to tinkering and rebuilding hydroplanes.

He rebuilt Slo-mo-shun V, which was damaged in a famous flip in 1955. In fact, Smith and his sons were crew members on several winning boats and contributed innovative oiling and fueling systems.

In 1980, David began Precor Inc., a Bothell home exercise equipment company that does more than $40 million in gross sales and employs about 300 people.

David hired his father as chief mechanic and engineer. Burns supplied most of the tools, worked on the machines in his garage and supplied the company's first truck.

He contributed to design features in the company's stationary bicycle, rowing machine and climber.

``My father was the first person I hired,'' said David. ``He was the spirit behind the manufacturing and innovation. But he was very quiet about the things he did. He wouldn't take credit, he just said it was my company. He always gave of himself and never asked for anything.''

Smith left the business with his son in 1987, at age 70. Before losing his battle to cancer, he turned his attention to yet another love - antique cars.

He restored a 1934 and a 1937 Packard and won several awards and various automobile shows.

Unlike most competitors, he drove his automobile to the shows. He was an officer in the Packard International Motor Car Club and helped his son show restored Ferraris.

Smith donated money to Children's Hospital and Medical Center and to the Woodland Park Zoo.

He is survived by his wife, of Mercer Island; a daughter, Rosann Lewis, of Honolulu; two sons, David and Dixon, both of the Seattle area, and several grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Swedish Hospital Tumor Clinic/Cancer Research Fund.