Rankin M. Smith Sr. was born on October 29, 1925, in Atlanta Georgia. He was a businessman and philanthropist. He was president of the Life Insurance Company of Georgia from 1970 to 197.
Smith was also the founder and owner of the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.
In 1965 when the American Football League wanted to expand to Atlanta, they awarded Smith a franchise. However, Smith renounced the agreement when the National Football League offered him a franchise. The American Football League then awarded the franchise to Miami, and this was when the Dolphins were born.
In June 1965, he paid $8.5 million for an NFL team in Atlanta. Smith also gained exclusive rights to Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium where the Falcons played for 26 seasons since 1966.
He was also pivotal in the building of the Falcon’s stadium, the Georgia Dome. He threatened to relocate the Falcons if the stadium was not constructed. Smith was in charge of the day-to-day administration of the team until 1990 when he handed over to his son, Taylor Smith. Smith died on October 26, 1997, from heart complications.