Richard K. SMITH

SMITH, HAMILTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/6/2008 at 11:00:39

Lewiston Morning Tribune (Idaho)
January 14, 2001

Richard K. Smith, 83, Missoula, Mont

Richard K. Smith, 83, a civic and business leader at Lewiston before he joined the faculty of the University of Montana, died of natural causes Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2001, at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Mont.

He was born Sept. 28, 1917, one of five children of Mildred and Granville Jesse Smith in Clarion, Iowa. Following graduation from Clarion High School, he received bachelor of arts and J.D. degrees from the State University of Iowa. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1942 and served on motor torpedo boats, earning the Bronze Star in the South Pacific in World War II. He was discharged in 1946 with the rank of lieutenant commander.

He married Prudence Hamilton on July 7, 1945. He received a MBA in 1947 from Harvard Business School and had a corporate business career, primarily with Potlatch Forests Inc. in Lewiston, as tax manager, treasurer and financial vice president. Dick was the 1959 chairman of the Twin City Red Feather Drive (now the United Way) and brought donations over the top to exceed the goal. He was on the board of the North Idaho Children's Home and a member of the Elks Lodge. He was an elder, trustee and Sunday school teacher at the Congregational-Presbyterian Church. He returned to school at the University of Oregon, receiving a doctorate degree in business administration in 1968. In that year, he joined the faculty at the University of Montana as professor of finance. He was valued by his colleagues and admired by his students, who named him the university's Most Inspirational Professor in the 1981-82 academic year. He retired as professor emeritus in 1988.

He was elected to the Missoula City Council in 1972 and served for two terms and was chairman of Finance Committee. His many civic contributions included: founding member of the Missoula Transportation District (Mountain Line), founding member of the Missoula Farmers Market, founding member of the Missoula Public Library Foundation and advocate for Open Space. He is remembered by his colleagues on those boards for his diligence, commitment and willing good cheer. Until his final illness, he continued his service to the community as foster grandparent at Chief Charlo and Emily Dickinson schools and as an escort at Blue Mountain Clinic. He read widely, being a stalwart of a serious books group at the University Congregational Church and of a less serious Trollope Society.

He is survived by his wife Prudence; son Richard H. Smith and wife Lezlie and their children, Jesse and Ian of Grants, N.M.; son Stephen H. Smith and his wife Glenda of Missoula; and daughter Prudence Anne Smith of Missoula.

A service celebrating Dick's life will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at University Congregational Church, 405 University Ave., Missoula. Memorials in his name may be sent to the University Congregational Church Memorial Fund or the Missoula Public Library Foundation.