David Miln Smith
Encyclopedia
David Miln Smith is a speaker and adventure athlete. He was the first man to swim from Africa
to Europe
across the straits of Gibraltar, which he did twice, first in 1966, and again in 1967. He made a name for himself in the 1960s and 1970s with a series of extreme and international multi-sports events, such as "Everyman's Olympics" and the "Peace Pentathlon." The latter got him on the cover of Sports Illustrated
in 1970, where he was dubbed "Super Hippie." Throughout the next few decades, he wrote books on yoga
and health, and was the recurrent guest adventurer on television shows such as Johnny Carson
's Tonight Show
. Johnny Carson said, “He travels around the world doing all the things you want to do.” The Today Show called him "the King of the Risk Takers".
. He achieved Eagle Scout
at the age of 12 and a half, and was at the time the youngest known Eagle Scout.
and bipolar disorder
in East Millstone, New Jersey
, first as a yoga
instructor and psychodrama
facilitator
, and later as the director of their "Earth Adventure" program, an early example of wilderness therapy
in which a group of twenty to forty patients would be led on a camping expedition onto the Appalachian Trail
, and perform a wilderness course including climbing
, rappelling
, and canoeing
through rapid
s.
From 1990 to the present, he has been on staff as the motivational speaker for the Northern California Service League, giving talks twice a month to ex-cons
in San Quentin
, the maximum security prison, San Bruno Jail
, San Francisco Jail, and at the center. He urges them to "get a job, not do a job."
He is also on the available-speaker lists of several agencies which arrange speakers for special occasions.
http://www.wowspeakers.com/speakers/bio.cfm?speakerID=smit0154
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
across the straits of Gibraltar, which he did twice, first in 1966, and again in 1967. He made a name for himself in the 1960s and 1970s with a series of extreme and international multi-sports events, such as "Everyman's Olympics" and the "Peace Pentathlon." The latter got him on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
in 1970, where he was dubbed "Super Hippie." Throughout the next few decades, he wrote books on yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
and health, and was the recurrent guest adventurer on television shows such as Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
's Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...
. Johnny Carson said, “He travels around the world doing all the things you want to do.” The Today Show called him "the King of the Risk Takers".
Early life
David was the son of Dr. Seymour and Gladys Smith of San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He achieved Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
at the age of 12 and a half, and was at the time the youngest known Eagle Scout.
Later work
From 1973 to 1999 he was on staff at Earth House, a residential treatment center for young people diagnosed with schizophreniaSchizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
and bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
in East Millstone, New Jersey
East Millstone, New Jersey
East Millstone is a census-designated place and historic district within Franklin Township, in Somerset County, New Jersey, United States. It is a small rural community that grew and prospered with a small industrial base in the 19th Century, centered around the Delaware and Raritan Canal at...
, first as a yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
instructor and psychodrama
Psychodrama
Psychodrama is a method of psychotherapy in which clients utilize spontaneous dramatization, role playing and dramatic self-presentation to investigate and gain insight into their lives. Developed by Jacob L. Moreno, M.D. psychodrama includes elements of theater, often conducted on a stage where...
facilitator
Facilitator
A facilitator is someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan to achieve them without taking a particular position in the discussion...
, and later as the director of their "Earth Adventure" program, an early example of wilderness therapy
Wilderness therapy
Wilderness therapy is a subset of adventure-based therapy. It is the use of wilderness expeditions for the purpose of therapeutic intervention. There are a range of different types of wilderness therapy programs, with a range of models and approaches. Some grow out of a survival approach and some...
in which a group of twenty to forty patients would be led on a camping expedition onto the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
, and perform a wilderness course including climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, rappelling
Abseiling
Abseiling , rappelling in American English, is the controlled descent down a rock face using a rope; climbers use this technique when a cliff or slope is too steep and/or dangerous to descend without protection.- Slang terms :...
, and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
through rapid
Rapid
A rapid is a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient causing an increase in water velocity and turbulence. A rapid is a hydrological feature between a run and a cascade. A rapid is characterised by the river becoming shallower and having some rocks exposed above the...
s.
From 1990 to the present, he has been on staff as the motivational speaker for the Northern California Service League, giving talks twice a month to ex-cons
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
in San Quentin
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin State Prison is a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation state prison for men in unincorporated San Quentin, Marin County, California, United States. Opened in July 1852, it is the oldest prison in the state. California's only death row for male inmates, the largest...
, the maximum security prison, San Bruno Jail
Jails of San Francisco, California
San Francisco County Jails are operated by the Sheriff's Department Custody Division of the City and County of San Francisco. The system comprises eight jails, with approximately 55,000 annual bookings administered by 800 deputy sheriffs.-Facilities:...
, San Francisco Jail, and at the center. He urges them to "get a job, not do a job."
He is also on the available-speaker lists of several agencies which arrange speakers for special occasions.
http://www.wowspeakers.com/speakers/bio.cfm?speakerID=smit0154
Published works
- HUG THE MONSTER: How to Embrace Your Fears and Live Your Dreams (with Sandra Leicester) (Andrews & McMeel, 1996)
- HEALING JOURNEY The Odyssey of an Uncommon Athlete (Sierra Club BooksSierra Club BooksSierra Club Books is the publishing division of the Sierra Club, founded in 1960 by then Sierra Club President David Brower. Volumes intended for club members had been published prior to 1960. In addition, books under their name had been published before 1960, but done through already established...
/Random House, 1983) - The East/West Exercise Book (McGraw-Hill, 1976)