CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Hulett Carlson Smith, West Virginia's governor from 1965 to 1969, whose term was marked by several disasters and the state's first attempt to regulate the strip mining industry, died on Sunday in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the age of 93.

Smith, a native and longtime resident of Beckley -- his father was mayor there for 25 years -- moved to an assisted-living facility in Arizona last year.

Several familiar features of state politics and government took shape during Smith's tenure. He championed the Modern Budget Amendment, which made the governor solely responsible for preparing the annual state budget submitted to lawmakers.

Under his watch, the state also passed laws to strengthen human rights employment standards, improve air and water pollution controls, increase workers' compensation benefits and legalize the sale of liquor by the drink in "private clubs."

He also supported improving minimum wage legislation and got state voters to approve a $350 million road bond amendment. He also signed legislation abolishing the death penalty in West Virginia, which he called one of his proudest moments at governor, according to the history "West Virginia Governors" by former Charleston Gazette reporter John G. Morgan.

As governor, Smith also faced dramatic tragedies, including the collapse of the Silver Bridge in Point Pleasant in 1967, when 45 people died. In 1968, a Piedmont Airlines plane crashed into a hillside at Kanawha (now Yeager) Airport, killing 32 people. Later that year, 78 miners were killed in an explosion at the Consol No. 9 mine in Farmington.

After the Farmington disaster, Smith told a national television audience, "We must recognize that this is a hazardous business, and what has occurred here is one of the hazards of being a miner."

But Smith was an advocate of restraints on mining, specifically strip mining, which he believed unnecessarily destroyed West Virginia's natural beauty.

In 1966, when a governor's task force on surface mining held its first meeting in 1966, Smith told the panel, "The rape of West Virginia has occurred." The following year, the Legislature passed strip mining rules that survived a challenge in the state Supreme Court.

Smith was also an advocate of education, and increased funding for pre-school and college-level programs. He also wanted to provide free tuition for the first two years of college, and said that was one of his regrets after his term.

Born in Beckley in 1918, Hulett Smith was the son of Joe L. Smith and Christine Carlson Smith. In addition to his tenure as Beckley mayor, his father served in Congress for 16 years.

Smith attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley, Beckley College and the Wharton School of Finance and Administration at the University of Pennsylvania. He was a licensed pilot who served as a Navy lieutenant during World War II.

Despite his family's political background, he told Morgan that he originally wanted to be an architect. But he eventually moved toward politics. His first run for elected office was a failed run for governor in 1960. He then became the state's first commerce commissioner, and was elected governor on his second try in 1964.

In 1966, Smith's efforts to pass legislation allowing a West Virginia governor to succeed himself for a second term failed to pass the Legislature. That legislation was then passed during the first term of his successor, Republican Arch A. Moore Jr.

After his term as governor, Smith never ran for office again. He returned to head his Beckley business, the Home Insurance Agency and Investment Securities. He did resurface a few times on the political scene, notably as a supporter of Democratic presidential candidates Hubert Humphrey in 1972 and Terry Sanford in 1976.

In "West Virginia Governors," Morgan wrote that Smith's "manner of making decisions didn't fit the usual concept of what a strong executive should be. In fact, he was accused of being too hesitant or wishy-washy about making decisions."

Some critics said Smith was hesitant to make enemies. "Let's put it this way," Smith told Morgan. "I don't mind making decisions, but I never felt I would like to step on somebody to climb."

Smith served as U.S. Rep. Robert H. Mollohan's campaign manager in 1956, when he lost his gubernatorial bid to Republican Cecil Underwood.

"Hulett was a very capable and good man and served the state well in many capacities," former congressman Alan Mollohan, Robert Mollohan's son, said Monday. "He served as governor, and as a community leader, for all of his adult life. He had a very close association with Dad.

"Our whole family extends to Gov. Smith's family our condolences. We know that they can be proud, in every way, of his accomplishments."

Ken Hechler, former Democratic congressman and secretary of state, said, "Hulett was a great friend not only to people in his home, Raleigh County, but also to people throughout the state of West Virginia.

"I certainly will miss him. He was a great leader. ... I appreciate that he would always level with me whenever I asked him a question about what was going on."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., called Smith a "staunch advocate for the less fortunate" and said he befriended Rockefeller when he first came to West Virginia as a volunteer in 1964.

"He was a great and trusted friend, and someone I deeply admired," Rockefeller said.

Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va, said, "When Hulett Smith stepped forward as your neighbor, a businessman, governor or distinguished civic leader, you could count on two things.

"In one hand, the governor would be carrying the banner of excellence. The other would be outstretched so our kids could grab hold of a brighter future. The only thing this born leader ever followed was the truth as he saw it.

"Though we will miss him dearly here in Beckley, our state and nation has lost a champion, a thinker and doer, one who led a life of service to his fellow man. Hulett's family and mine enjoyed a long and treasured friendship, we are holding them close in our prayers."

In 1942, Smith married Mary Alice Tieche, who died in 1987. Three years later, he married Nancy Pat Lewis, who died in 2009.

Smith and his first wife had six children. One son, Hulett C. Smith Jr., died of leukemia at the age of 9. Another son, Mark Smith, died in 1999 from complications of pneumonia at 39.

Smith is survived by his four other children and their spouses: Carolyn H. Sheets and her husband George of Columbus, Ohio; Alice Christine Merritt of Atlanta; Suzaine Smith of Boulder, Colo.; and Paul Smith and his wife Patti of Beckley. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Melton Mortuary in Beckley is handling funeral arrangements, which were incomplete on Monday. Smith attended Beckley Presbyterian Church, which will hold a funeral service after arrangements are completed.

Reach Paul J. Nyden at pjny...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5164.