Editor's Take: It’s as if Eddie’s Still There

Not Lonely at the Top
Eddie’s daughter, Lynda Swann, is now in charge, but she’s hardly alone at the top. She’s a well-groomed leader. But few things she tells you aren’t accompanied with a “that’s how my dad would’ve done it” or “wanted it done.” Her mission, to carry the company forward precisely the way her father dictated for so many years, isn’t merely out of love and respect for him. It’s because Smith constantly adapted to the times. His approach worked in the ’50s, and it still works today.