Introduction, by Dr. Steven Cann, Washburn University
Dr. Loran B. Smith passed away in Topeka, Kansas, on July 24, 2009. He was born on July 23, 1946. He was the son of Gordon T and Edith A (Hibbard) Smith of Medford, Massachusetts. Loran received his bachelors degree at Salem State College (Massachusetts) in 1968, a masters from Oklahoma State in 1971, and then taught at Black Hills State (Spearfish, South Dakota) from 1971–1974 and Augustana College in Souix Falls from 1974–1977. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1980 and taught at Missouri Southern State College in Joplin until 1982. He then came to Washburn University of Topeka, where he taught until his death. While “Doc” Smith (as the students referred to him) published sufficiently enough to be awarded tenure and promotion to professor, that was not his forte. Loran was a gifted teacher. His CV lists 23 teaching awards, including Washburn's Faculty Certificate of Merit, a university-wide teaching honor based on student elections, from 1985–1998. Loran was also extremely active in faculty governance and other service to the university and the Topeka community. He was on the university's faculty governing body from 1996–2006, serving as its vice president in 2002 and president from 2003–2005. He was the chairman of the Social Science Division almost all of the 1990s and he also served as the chairman of the college's curriculum committee during that same time span. As Washburn is an open-admission university, we have retention problems not experienced by most universities. Loran researched, organized, and ran a college experience program for at-risk students. He was very active in ASPA, serving as the Kansas chapter president from 1987–1988, indeed, his auto license plate read “KS ASPA” and was purchased for him by students he had recruited into ASPA. Loran's main area of academic interest was state and local government and he was the election night expert for one of the local TV stations here in the capital of Kansas from 1984–1992. What occupied most of his time and energy outside of his official academic duties was serving as the faculty advisor for a local chapter of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. Doc Smith took what was a typical college fraternity and turned it into a modern association of men that consistently had the highest average GPA of all the fraternities and sororities on campus. It was not unusual for Loran to pay for a student's tuition and fraternity house bill, buy students books, and lend money to a needy student. Loran had a reputation for frugality (his apartment had a TV but no cable, a rotary phone, and he rented all of his furniture and appliances). Loran's tightness with money turned out to be a big benefit for the fraternity. One chapter official put it this way, “Through his notorious tight-fisted watch over finances, the Chapter was able to wipe out a significant debt to the National Housing Corporation ahead of schedule and helped the chapter build a significant savings by 2000.” People who knew Loran thought that he was not married but Loran was married to his job. Not only was Loran in his office nearly every evening until 10:00 p.m., but he was there all day Saturday and Sunday too, and, more often than not, there was a student in that office talking with him.
What follows are what some of his former students had to say about Doc Smith.
From Adam Breymeyer
I'm not a famous graduate and will never be featured in the Washburn alumni magazine. Thanks to Loran Smith though, I am a Washburn alum. He took interest in a freshman on academic probation who had sat out a semester. If Loran hadn't taken on the role of mentor, I never would have seen graduation day. Hats off to Dr. Smith and I'll always try to “pay it forward.”
From Michael K. Moore, associate professor and senior vice provost, University of Texas at Arlington, and Washburn class of 1987
I received my alumni magazine today and was saddened to learn of Loran's death. Loran served as my academic advisor and mentor while I was at Washburn. Over the years we had a number of conversations about coursework and college life. He was extremely well suited for his role as a professor and advisor. I can honestly say that Loran played a significant role in my success at Washburn University and my subsequent career. I was on the debate team and like all debaters I assumed I was destined for law school and a career of professional arguing. That is, until I worked for a law firm the summer between my junior and senior years. I hated it and was terribly disillusioned. I don't think Loran was surprised by my experience and he saw in me a talent that I did not realize I had. He encouraged me to consider graduate school instead of law school and he recommended the University of Nebraska, his alma mater. In fact, since he still had contacts at UNL, he made a phone call on my behalf and I was awarded the Senning Fellowship—the top award to an incoming political science students. I am confident it was due to his recommendation that I received the fellowship.
I decided to accept UNL's offer and earned both my MA and Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska. In 1992 I joined the faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington where I was later tenured and promoted to associate professor. Since 2000, I have been in the central administration and currently serve as the senior vice provost. I recall fondly my days at Washburn. I wanted to extend a special thanks to Dr. Smith for pushing me in the direction of graduate school—it was a wonderful fit for me and I hope I reach my students in the same way that he reached his.
From Kendall R. Cunningham, Washburn University class of 1987, JD 1990
I met Dr. Loran Smith in the fall of 1984. I brashly walked into his office in the political science department at Washburn University and told him that I was going to law school and needed help getting there. Our subsequent conversation, as well as countless other conversations thereafter, is responsible for me being where I am today.
Dr. Smith challenged me by providing a roadmap that would point in the direction of law school. He suggested classes in multiple disciplines that would prepare me for the rigors of law school and put me in the best position to not only be admitted to law school, but to excel once I was there. He also encouraged me to be involved on campus, which led me to develop friendships that continue to the present.
Although I moved away from Topeka to begin my legal career, I continued to stay in touch with Dr. Smith to discuss my professional development, as well as the various challenges presented by life. Even today, as I handle my most difficult cases, the guidelines for success taught to me by Dr. Smith still ring true: work hard, be prepared, and never back down from a challenge. As a mentor and friend, he will be missed.
From Stephen Ternes, Wichita
I was saddened to read in the fall Washburn alumni magazine of the passing of Dr. Loran Smith. I graduated in 1987 with a BA in communications, a minor in political science, and went on to law school.
I remember Dr. Smith as a gentle, kind soul. Always chipper, he truly took a personal interest in his students. As I finished my degree, I stopped in his office one day to discuss the upcoming challenges of law school. He took me to lunch that day (he apologized that it could only be to the Union) and did his best to help me prepare. He even flattered the success I had achieved in my undergraduate studies. He paid for both of our lunches out of his own pocket. I was very impressed that a man of his importance had taken the time for a lowly undergrad.
I hope that he did not suffer in his passing. Dr. Smith and Washburn will remain in my prayers.
From Rachel Goossen, Associate Professor of History, Washburn University
In terms of his university and community service, Loran was deeply involved in the regional History Day program. He served as a judge at our District 3 competition, held here at Washburn, for more than 25 years, and enjoyed interacting with hundreds of middle school students over the years who created and interpreted visual exhibits on a wide range of historical topics.
From Margie Mersmann
I took several of Dr. Smith's classes in the mid-80s and I want to share with you my favorite quote of his. I returned to college after my children had all left home so I was an older student on campus. He would always tell me to “beware of little old ladies in tennis shoes, as you will never win an argument with them.” I went on to get my BA in history in 1985 and taught school until my sixty-eighth birthday. He was my favorite teacher, and I remember him fondly. Thanks for listening.
From Michael R. Brooks, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, CVR Energy
Sorry to hear about Dr Smith. It was a pleasure to know him; he was always the first to put the students' education, welfare, and advancement above all else. I am fairly sure I would not have graduated without his counseling.
