Tom Smythe grew up in Kansas and Nebraska. He obtained a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska and a Masters Degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Kansas. He accepted a job with the Lake County Department of Public Works in 1987, and has lived in Lake County ever since.

Tom enjoys living in Lake County, boating, mountain bicycling, and enjoying the great outdoors. Tom is married to Jackie, and has three adult daughters and one grandson. Tom serves on the Board of the Friends of Boggs Mountain, a non-profit formed to enhance the visitor's experience in Boggs Mountain State Land Trust Tom joined the Land Trust and the Board to help preserve the beautiful open spaces in Lake County that make it such a wonderful place to live.