Richard Williams "Dick" Smith

Richard "Dick" Williams Smith, PhD, professor emeritus, Department of History, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, died July 1, 2025, at the age of 101. Born on Nov 5, 1923, in Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, to Mary J. Williams and Cloyd C. Smith, Dr. Smith was raised in Canton, Ohio.

Prior to his 1941 graduation from Canton's McKinley High School, Dr. Smith was a star for the speech and debate team, winning the 1941 state championship for extemporaneous speech and a varsity letter. He was awarded a four-year Rector Scholarship from DePauw University, Greencastle, Indiana. Elected Phi Beta Kappa, he graduated in 1945, received his MA in History from Harvard University in 1947, and his doctorate in History from Ohio State University in 1959.

Dr. Smith taught at Ohio Wesleyan from 1950-86 with a focus on the American frontier, the antebellum South, and the Civil War. An inspiring, popular, yet demanding, instructor, he was awarded the President Herbert Welch Meritorious Teaching Award in 1975. Active in the Ohio Academy of History, which unites faculty from Ohio's public and private institutions, he served as President from 1970-71 and received the Academy's Distinguished Service Award in 1987. Initiated into Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary society while at OSU (the first school he attended with a chapter), Dr. Smith became the charter member establishing the Epsilon Zeta Chapter at OWU on May 23, 1954. He served as faculty advisor from that time.

In 1952 Dr. Smith married Betty Jane Jackson (OWU '52), who survives him, as well as three children, Kathryn Smith Ripper, David J. Smith, and Becky L. Lantz (Ken), and four grandchildren, Jennifer Ripper (Alex Lothstein), Samuel Ripper, Rachel Lantz, and Drew Lantz.

Three former students, Evan Bukey, Evan Corns, and Lloyd Ferguson, initiated funding of The Richard W. Smith Civil War Lecture at OWU in 2002 in their professor's honor. The Lecture's brought top-flight historians to Delaware each year. This year's Lecture will be held on Sept 29th on campus. A celebration of Dr. Smith's life will be held on Sunday, Sept 28th, also on campus. Both events are open to the public.

The family asks that anyone wishing to make a charitable donation to honor Dick's work contact the University Advancement Office, 61 S. Sandusky St., Delaware OH 43015 with a check made to the order of OWU — but with a note that the donation be credited to The Dick Smith Journal Fund or call 740-368-3315 in order to give to the Journal Fund using a credit card or ask questions about how to donate online. The Lecture Fund is fully funded.

The Robinson Funeral Home is honored to serve the Smith family in their time of need. To leave an online condolence, visit www.robinsonfuneralhomeinc.com.