Joseph Grady Smoot, 85 of 1502 East Centennial Drive died at 11:05 AM, Friday January 5, 2018 at Via Christi Village. He had been a resident since January 2015.
He was born May 7, 1932 in Winter Haven, Florida to Robert Malcolm Smoot and Vera Eaton Smoot McNutt. Mr. Smoot received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Missionary College in Collegedale, Tennessee in 1955, a Masters of Arts in History and a Ph.D. Degree in History from the University of Kentucky in 1961. He married Florence Rozell on 30 May 1955. He married Irma Jean Smoot on June 4, 1959.
He has served as academic dean at Columbia Union College and dean of graduate studies at Andrews University where he also became Vice President for Academic Affairs and later President. He held the academic rank of professor of history at Andrews from 1968 to 1983. He led Andrews to professional accreditation in several fields of knowledge, created the first strategic master plan, launched the first comprehensive capital campaign, and built numerous buildings. He instituted doctoral programs of study, developed a world system of affiliated higher education, and led the University to full accreditation of the Doctor of Philosophy degree. He organized two new schools in the University in Business and Education, and established the Department of Architecture. He developed the Andrews University Press as a scholarly publisher and created the Institute for Alcoholism and Drug Dependency. He is the leading founder of the University of Eastern Africa in Kenya. While at Pittsburg State University, he was the Vice President of Development and Public Affairs. During that time, he organized the PSU Foundation, established the public radio station KRPS, founded the University Magazine, and created a substantial endowment fund for University operations. He brought one of America’s finest concert organs to the campus and provided funding for numerous building and renovation projects. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the University campus was a special project to him. After retirement, he returned as Assistant to the President of Pittsburg State University and vice president emeritus.
In 1994, he became a Director of Gold Bank Pittsburg and served for nine years in that capacity. In 1999, the Pittsburg City Commission appointed him to a four-year term to the Pittsburg Public Library Board of Trustees where he became a founder of the PPL Foundation in 2000 and its president in 2004. The Pittsburg City Commission appointed him to a second four-year term to the Board of Trustees in 2003. In 2001, he became a founder of the Pittsburg Area Community Foundation and served on its Board of Trustees. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honorary society for history. Widely published as a historian, he has nearly seven hundred publications. As an educator, he became a national authority on the accreditation of higher education. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. Widely traveled, he has visited over hundred countries on seven continents.
Additional survivors include: One Son – Andrew Christopher Smoot of Oshkosh, Wisconsin One Brother – Wayne McNutt of Winter Park, Florida, Four Grandchildren – Hannah Smoot, Haley Smoot, Eric Smoot and Heidi Smoot of Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mr. Smoot was preceded in death by his first wife – Florence, and second wife - Irma Jean and by a grandson Christopher Nash Smoot, one brother, two sisters and one half-brother.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the Timmons Chapel with Carlos Ancheta of the Fox Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church of Neenah, Wisconsin officiating. Burial will be in the Underhill Cemetery, Underhill, Wisconsin. The family suggests memorials to the Smoot Family Endowment. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary.
He has served as academic dean at Columbia Union College and dean of graduate studies at Andrews University where he also became Vice President for Academic Affairs and later President. He held the academic rank of professor of history at Andrews from 1968 to 1983. He led Andrews to professional accreditation in several fields of knowledge, created the first strategic master plan, launched the first comprehensive capital campaign, and built numerous buildings. He instituted doctoral programs of study, developed a world system of affiliated higher education, and led the University to full accreditation of the Doctor of Philosophy degree. He organized two new schools in the University in Business and Education, and established the Department of Architecture. He developed the Andrews University Press as a scholarly publisher and created the Institute for Alcoholism and Drug Dependency. He is the leading founder of the University of Eastern Africa in Kenya. While at Pittsburg State University, he was the Vice President of Development and Public Affairs. During that time, he organized the PSU Foundation, established the public radio station KRPS, founded the University Magazine, and created a substantial endowment fund for University operations. He brought one of America’s finest concert organs to the campus and provided funding for numerous building and renovation projects. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the University campus was a special project to him. After retirement, he returned as Assistant to the President of Pittsburg State University and vice president emeritus.
In 1994, he became a Director of Gold Bank Pittsburg and served for nine years in that capacity. In 1999, the Pittsburg City Commission appointed him to a four-year term to the Pittsburg Public Library Board of Trustees where he became a founder of the PPL Foundation in 2000 and its president in 2004. The Pittsburg City Commission appointed him to a second four-year term to the Board of Trustees in 2003. In 2001, he became a founder of the Pittsburg Area Community Foundation and served on its Board of Trustees. He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national honorary society for history. Widely published as a historian, he has nearly seven hundred publications. As an educator, he became a national authority on the accreditation of higher education. He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. Widely traveled, he has visited over hundred countries on seven continents.
Additional survivors include: One Son – Andrew Christopher Smoot of Oshkosh, Wisconsin One Brother – Wayne McNutt of Winter Park, Florida, Four Grandchildren – Hannah Smoot, Haley Smoot, Eric Smoot and Heidi Smoot of Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mr. Smoot was preceded in death by his first wife – Florence, and second wife - Irma Jean and by a grandson Christopher Nash Smoot, one brother, two sisters and one half-brother.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at the Timmons Chapel with Carlos Ancheta of the Fox Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church of Neenah, Wisconsin officiating. Burial will be in the Underhill Cemetery, Underhill, Wisconsin. The family suggests memorials to the Smoot Family Endowment. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may also leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary.
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