Charles Albert Smith was born on February 20, 1945, in Orange, Texas. He attended schools in multiple states, including Alaska, California, Tennessee, and Arizona, before graduating from West Orange High School in Texas, where he was a member of the National Honor Society.

He later studied at Lamar Tech College in Beaumont, Texas. Smith worked as an Electrical Engineer for B.F. Goodrich in Port Neches, Texas, and Akron, Ohio, where he served as chairman of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. He also authored a graduate paper on fiber optics in communication. 

Smith married Rosemary Long in 1971, and they shared interests in sailing and skiing. He owned several sailboats and actively participated in sailing regattas, though he survived a capsizing incident on Lake Erie during a race.

In addition to sailing, he enjoyed snow skiing, winning a gold medal in the Nastar Slalom at Squaw Valley, and participating in recreational sports like volleyball and softball. Smith also owned rental properties in Akron and built a house at a marina in Port Arthur, Texas. His professional and personal pursuits reflect a dedication to engineering and an active lifestyle.