Donald F. Smith Chemistry Scholarship Established at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Long-time University of Alabama chemistry professor and educator Donald F. Smith has been honored with the establishment of a scholarship in his name.

The Donald F. Smith Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry has been established with a $25,000 endowment by Smith’s widow, Marion W. Smith of Tuscaloosa; daughter Marion S. Bishop of Huntsville; and son Donald F. Smith, Jr. of Fairplay, Colo.

Smith was a faculty member in UA’s department of chemistry from 1951 to 1983 and served as its chair for several terms. He died in 1997 at the age of 84. Prior to joining the University, he taught at Judson College in Marion; The Citadel in Charleston, S.C.; the Pennsylvania College of Women in Pittsburgh; and at the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vt.

“The College and the University continue to reap invaluable benefits from Dr. Donald Smith’s distinguished legacy as a skilled and beloved teacher and as a talented and dedicated chemist,” said Dr. Robert F. Olin, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. “Our department of chemistry is better thanks to his 32 years of service. He is remembered by countless former students and colleagues who are now benefiting in their careers and lives from his positive influence on them. The Donald Smith Scholarship in Chemistry will continue this positive influence in future years by inspiring and tangibly supporting young chemists as they seek their educations. We are grateful to the Smith family for this endowment,” Olin said.

During his career, Smith also worked with the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh and at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Thiokol in Huntsville. Smith was a fellow of the American Institute of Chemists and a member of the American Chemical Society and other professional organizations.

Throughout his life he was an avid tennis player and a long-time supporter of the youth tennis program in Tuscaloosa.

Born in Athens, Tenn., Smith received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Chattanooga, a master of science degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Virginia-Charlottesville.

Contributions to the scholarship can be made by contacting Bobbie Rafferty, coordinator of College advancement, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Alabama, 205/348-6698.