Rhoten A. Smith

Mr. Smith died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, at Hospice and Palliative Care in Greeley.

He was born Jan. 17, 1921, in Dallas, the son of Rhoten A. Sr. and Ruth Elizabeth (Cooke) Smith. He graduated from Paschal High School in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1938. He attended Texas Wesleyan College in 1940 and the University of Texas from 1940 to 1942. He received his bachelor of arts degree in 1946 and his master of arts degree in 1948, both in political science from Kansas University. He received his doctorate in 1955 in political science from University of California at Berkeley.

Mr. Smith served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 and flew 35 missions over Germany and occupied Europe as a B-17 pilot. He was in the 92nd Bomb Group 8th Air Force from 1944 to 1945 and was discharged as a first lieutenant, USAAC, in June 1945.

He was an instructor of political science at KU from 1947 to 1949 and from 1951 to 1955, then was assistant and associate professor from 1955 to 1958. He was a professor of political science and director at Citizenship Clearing House at New York University from 1958 to 1961, dean at the college of liberal arts and sciences at Temple University from 1961 to 1967, president of Northern Illinois University from 1967 to 1971 and provost senior vice-chancellor at University of Pittsburgh from 1971 to 1983, when he retired and moved to Greeley. He was a member and served on the board of directors of Weld Mental Health Center, now North Front Range Behavioral Health, from 1984 to 1994 and from 1995 to present and served as president from 1985 to 1987. He was a charter member of the Greeley Redeye Rotary Club and served as president from 1993 to 1994. He was a member of Friends of the UNC Libraries from 1984 to present, serving as president from 1989 to 1991, and was a board member of Greeley RSVP from 2001 to 2003.

He married Barbara Okerberg on Dec. 24, 1942, in Houston. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include a daughter, Susan Jane Warren, Keenesburg; a son, Tyler Rhoten, Denver; a sister, Maclyn Kesselring, Tucson, Ariz.; four grandchildren, including Amanda Beth Warren, Lawrence, Kan.; and a great-grandchild.

The family suggests memorials to KU Endowment Fund or Hospice and Palliative Care, sent in care of the funeral home, 702 13th St., Greeley 80631.

Friends may view an online obituary at www.allnutt.com.