by Cara Cook
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

Smith became the sixth chancellor of the UH System and the 11th president of the University of Houston April 1, 1997. He became the first person to fill the highest position of the system and the university concurrently.

By Sept. 1, Smith will have completed 33 years in higher education. Nearly 30 of those years have been in administrative roles.

When Smith retires, he will have served as the University of Houston chancellor and president for more than six years.

Smith grew up in New Hampshire and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1959, earning three varsity letters as the Navy's top sprinter. He served as a commissioned officer and aviator from 1959 to 1965. After completing his service to the Navy, he received a master's degree from the University of New Hampshire and a Ph.D. in government from Cornell University, where he focused on Latin American studies, comparative politics and international politics and law.

Since Smith brought his talent and experience to the University of Houston, enrollment has reached a record high of more than 34,000 students. Edward Hayes, provost and senior vice president for the University of Houston-Clear Lake, said much of this stability reflects Smith himself.

"His friendly demeanor and apparent sensitivity to the major issues that impact our system has been a real uplifting for all of us," Hayes said.

Hayes said this concern shows through his revised admission policies, new retention programs, scholarship investments and improved course availability during his administration.

Smith said his experience at the University of Houston proved "exhilarating, often intense, sometimes stressful and demanding, but always deeply fulfilling." Throughout his career, his wife, June, remained by his side as his "indispensable partner and confidante" for 43 years.

As for the future, Smith and his wife look forward to the next phase of their lives together. They intend to divide their time between Houston and a second home on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. They eagerly await spending time with their three children and 11 grandchildren. In between travel and family, he and June want to remain active in the Houston community.

Smith plans to adopt the new title of university professor at the University of Houston.

"My goal is to explore these long-held-in-abeyance professional interests here at UH on a half-time basis over a period of at least five years, in combination with other personal and professional activities," Smith said. .

As retirement nears, Smith said much work remains to be done during the final months of his administration.

He plans to make the transition to new leadership for the University of Houston and the UH System smooth as he devotes his full energies to tasks that lie ahead in the coming months.

He feels the seven months remaining before his retirement should be adequate to facilitate a successful search process, but has agreed to continue beyond that date if needed to prevent appointing someone to serve on an interim basis.

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