[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 10, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3827-S3828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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   A TRIBUTE TO WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT SAMUEL H. SMITH

 Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the long and 
exemplary service of Washington State University (WSU) President Samuel 
H. Smith and his wife Pat Smith.

[[Page S3828]]

  Samuel Smith has served as President of WSU since July of 1985, and 
he will be retiring at the end of the month.
  Under Dr. Smith's leadership, the University has prospered. During 
his tenure, he strengthened the undergraduate and graduate curricula 
and worked to increase opportunities for women and minorities.
  As a result of President Smith's work, many programs at WSU have 
received national and worldwide recognition.
  President Smith deserves special honor for expanding the number of 
people who benefit from the University's educational system and for 
bringing education at WSU into the Information Age.
  Dr. Smith established branch campuses of WSU in Vancouver, the Tri-
Cities, and in Spokane, opening the doors of higher education to an 
even greater number of Washingtonians.
  These branch campuses serve transition communities, helping people 
build the skills and training they need to succeed in today's 
workplace. Their lives are improving thanks to Dr. Smith's vision.
  Dr. Smith was also instrumental in expanding educational 
opportunities to remote areas through WSU's innovative distance-
learning programs.
  One of the clearest examples of the way WSU has grown during Dr. 
Smith's tenure is the fact that more than one-third of all WSU 
graduates in the University's history were granted degrees by President 
Smith.
  Dr. Smith has also been a member of and a leader in many national 
educational organizations. He is the Chair of the National Association 
of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges Board of Directors for 
2000. He is also a member of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of 
State and Land-Grant Universities.
  He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Western Governors 
University. He has also served as Chair of the Executive Committee of 
the National Collegiate Athletic Association. For his exemplary 
service, Dr. Smith has received many honors and awards for his work in 
these organizations.
  President Smith is a native of Salinas, California, and holds 
bachelor's and doctoral degrees in plant pathology from the University 
of California at Berkeley and honorary doctoral degrees from Nihon 
University in Tokyo, Japan, and Far Eastern State University in 
Vladivostok, Russia.
  Mr. President, I also want my colleagues to know that Pat Smith has 
been an instrumental figure in the growth of Washington State 
University.
  From her position on the Washington State Arts Commission, she worked 
to expand the art collection and increase awareness of the WSU Museum 
of Art. She also serves on the boards of the Girl Scouts of the Inland 
Northwest and the United Way of Pullman, Washington.
  Mrs. Smith is also from Salinas, California, and is a graduate of 
Salinas Union High School. She studied at Hartnell College in Salinas, 
California.
  Mr. President, as a citizen of Washington state and as an alumna of 
Washington State University, I could not be more proud of the great job 
that President Smith and Pat Smith have done in expanding educational 
opportunities for the people of my state and nation and making my alma 
mater an even brighter beacon of learning and opportunity.
  Mr. President, in closing I would like to say--on behalf of the 
people of my state and the many graduates, faculty members and current 
students of Washington State University--thank you President and Mrs. 
Smith.
  Thank you for putting your compassion, energy and leadership to such 
good use at the helm of Washington State University.
  Your presence will be missed, but the many gifts you gave us serve as 
a constant reminder of your many years of generous service.

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