A Lawrence resident who had a resume that included serving as president of the Kansas Senate, a member of the Kansas Board of Regents and a host of leadership roles with Kansas University has died.

Glee Smith Jr. died on Monday at the age of 94, according to information provided by his family.

“He was a truly dedicated public servant,” said Cal Karlin, managing member of the Lawrence law firm Barber Emerson, where Smith served of counsel from 1991 to 2014. “I think he had a bigger vision than the rest of us had.”

Smith was a force in Kansas politics from 1957 to 1973, serving as a member of the Kansas Senate, according to information from his family. For the final eight years of his term, he served as president of the Kansas Senate. Smith represented the area near his hometown of Larned, Karlin said.

Smith also served eight years as member of the Kansas Board of Regents from 1975 to 1983.

Smith’s connections with Lawrence included his time at KU where he received a law degree and a journalism degree. He and his wife, Geraldine, moved back to Lawrence in 1991.

Karlin said Smith became involved in a multitude of community service projects, particularly activities related to KU. At various times Smith served as president of the Kansas Alumni Association, a member of the board of directors of the Kansas University Endowment Association, and received the university’s Fred Ellsworth Medallion for distinguished service to the university, among other awards.

“My sense is he always wanted to do what was best for Kansas and for KU,” Karlin said. “I think that is what drove him to a large degree.”

Graveside services will be in Larned on Thursday, and a memorial service will be planned for Lawrence at a later date, according to information from the family.