Kent Farrell Smith

1935 - 2025

Kent Farrell Smith

1935 ~ 2025

Holladay, UT-Kent Farrell Smith came into the world on June 26, 1935, to Elmer and Rosella (Rose) Calder Smith in a little wooden house on the shores of Bear Lake in Fish Haven, Idaho. He was the youngest of five children-Rosella June, Elmer O'Dell, Dean Calder, and, from the very beginning, he shared life with his younger twin and best friend, Kay Darrell. Kent's early years were spent on his father's well-known ranch in a small, rural community. The twins and their friends wreaked all sorts of havoc in the small, two-room schoolhouse. His favorite memory was climbing on the roof to steal the school bell. He had hoped it would cause school to be cancelled but, to his dismay, it didn't. Kent's life took a sudden change when, at age 10, his father died as a result of a tragic farming accident. After this occurred, Kent's mother struggled financially and Kent recalled his adolescence as a time of poverty. Though his opportunities were limited, Kent worked on farms and collected bottles to earn extra money. In 1952, he and Kay graduated from high school, enrolled for a year at the University of Idaho, and transferred to Utah State University.

While taking courses in electrical engineering, he and Kay joined the Utah State Institute Choir. While singing, he met Colleen Sperry, and they fell deeply in love. Kent and Colleen were married on August 22, 1956, and Kent recalled that everything in his life got better. Kent graduated from Utah State with a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and then a Master's degree of the same. Kent always said, "Education is the most important thing you can do. Kay and I were the first ones to go to college, and it was worth it. I owe everything good in my life to education."

Kent had a fascination with the first computers ever created. His degree provided an opportunity to get involved with early research, including time at Stanford, shaping a career dedicated to the innovation of integrated circuit design, in other words developing the tiny microchips inside of technology. He ultimately received a PhD at the University of Utah and became a professor and researcher of electrical engineering and computer science at that university. Through this work, Kent partnered with innovators who developed famous technologies, including, the first video game (Pong, which he called "a stupid little game"), the first artificial heart, first artificial eye implant, applications in the military like the gatling gun and CMOS that is still used today in almost all communication and electronic equipment. Kent described, "I couldn't wait to get to work every day. I loved it, I felt really successful, and I made some really good friends."

Kent was a natural-born teacher and a gifted speaker. He mentored and inspired countless students at the University of Utah. He was always giving opportunities for others to succeed. Kent's colleague remarked, "I once gave a presentation in Seoul, Korea, and the Vice President of Samsung stayed after to ask me 'Kent Smith… is that the guy who teaches at the University of Utah? I got my PhD under him!' It's amazing, Kent's students are all over the world."

At the heart of Kent's life was his family and friends. He loved his wife Colleen more than anything, and he loved each of his five children just as deeply. Kent knew and loved their spouses, and he had a personal relationship with each grandchild. He was a wonderful neighbor and made friends all over the world. Kent loved adventure, traveling, motorcycles, boating, skiing, and hiking. He and his family built a shared cabin by hand on his parents' land in Bear Lake. He also built a county road–Smith Hill Road–in Bear Lake, named after his ancestors who settled the land. This project allows extended families to live near each other and remember their heritage. True to form, Kent knew, loved, and talked about his nieces, nephews, and their children. Kent did whatever he could to strengthen relationships, because, in his words, "family is the most important thing you can ever have."