Lester Smith was a businessman, inventor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He held patents for a wide spectrum of products to improve building insulation and ventilation as well as ease of use and improved accommodations.

The Smiths started Home Comfort Insulation Company and later established Home Care Products in Princeville, IL. 

Lester and his wife Bobbie were involved in the community and church, and they helped found Youth Farm outside Peoria, IL, that helped boys with life skills to surmount adversity. They later moved to Tucson, AZ to be closer to their daughter. While alive, their support in Tucson included the Vista de la Montana United Methodist Church, the University of Arizona Athletics Department and the College of Education.

For more than two decades, they invested in partnerships, creating endowed professorships, numerous scholarships, mentoring programs for middle school students and many other opportunities that supported and helped children and families.