Opinionated, humorous and visionary were some of many adjectives friends and colleagues used to describe George Baxter Smith, a former Kansas University dean and vice chancellor.

Smith, 96, died Saturday at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

“He was an incredible person who I think was way ahead of his time during the peak of his career,” said David Ambler, who retired last year as KU’s dean of student affairs.

Ed Meyen, professor of special education at KU, agreed. Smith remained interested in education even after he retired in 1977, Meyen said.

“He was always able to put things into a context that made a lot of sense,” Meyen said.

In 1941, Smith was appointed professor of education, dean of the School of Education, and director of summer sessions at KU. After military service during World War II, Smith returned to KU and in 1952 was named dean of the university. From 1961 to 1972 he was vice chancellor for Institutional Research and Planning as well as dean of the university.

Smith retired from administration in 1972 and returned to teaching in the School of Education until 1977.

Smith served on numerous local, state and national academic committees.

He also was a big critic of standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT for college-bound students, Ambler said. Smith considered the tests guidance tools not to be used as factors in determining which students went to a particular university, Ambler said.

Smith also was a strong advocate of open enrollment at universities for any student who graduated from a state high school, and he even did a study of a 1950s KU graduating class to back up his argument, Ambler recalled. The study showed how some doctors, legislators and others would not have been able to attend KU had there been restricted enrollment and the effect that it might have had on their careers, Ambler said.

Moreover, Smith thought public and higher education had a responsibility to provide an education to as broad a spectrum as possible, Ambler said.

“He always had a vision,” Meyen said of Smith. “A lot of people here came after his career ended, but they were affected by him whether they know it or not.”

Three weeks ago Ambler had dinner with Smith and his wife, Marge.

“He was waxing about everything from budget cuts to potential war with Iraq,” Ambler said.

Services for Smith will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Plymouth Congregational Church. Private burial will be in Pioneer Cemetery. Warren-McElwain Mortuary is handling arrangements.