Dates

• Existence: 1920 - 2016

Biographical History

Robert J. Smith (1920-2016) was an accounting professor and academic administrator in Utah.

Robert Junius Smith was born on December 25, 1920, in Snowflake, Arizona to Samuel Francis Smith and Lulu Jane Hatch. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a mission in the Southern States. After his return he married Lola Nielson, and they later had eight children.

Smith attended Brigham Young University where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting in 1948. He then completed his MBA at Northwestern University in 1949, and became a Certified Public Accountant. He then returned to BYU to join the faculty of the Department of Accounting. He served as chair of the department from 1952 to 1954, and 1959 to 1961. In 1957 he completed his doctorate in Business Administration from Indiana University. He also served as interim dean of the College of Business between 1963 and 1964.

Beginning in 1968, Smith served in a series of university administrative appointments. These included serving as Assistant Academic Vice-President (1968-1972), Associate Academic Vice-President (1972-1978), and Financial Vice-President (1978-1983). After his retirement in 1983 he served as comptroller for the Jerusalem Center until 1988.

Smith was active in his church, and served in a variety of ecclesiastical positions. These included being a bishop, a stake president, a regional welfare agent, and temple president.

Robert J. Smith passed away on March 4, 2016 in Provo, Utah.

Citation:

My perspective of life's journey, 2001: t.p. (Robert J. Smith) page 1 (b. 1920)

Thoughts in verse, 1974: t.p. (Robert J. Smith) preface (Robert J. Smith, Provo, Utah)

Register of the Robert J. Smith papers, 2002 (Robert J. Smith; bachelor's degree, Business Administration and Accounting from Brigham Young University, 1948; MBA, Northwestern University, 1949; joined BYU faculty in Accounting and Business Administration, 1949; chair of Accounting, 1952-1954; studied at Indiana University, returning to BYU in 1958; chair of Accounting, 1959-1961; 1963-1964, served as acting dean of College of Business; 1968-1972, served as Assistant Academic Vice-President; 1971-1978, Associate Academic Vice-President; 1978-1983, Financial Vice-President; 1984-1988, Jerusalem Center Comptroller)

Brigham Young University annual catalogue, 1952: page 29 (Robert Junius Smith)

Brigham Young University catalog of courses, 1964: page 450 (Robert J. Smith; professor of accounting; joined Brigham Young University faculty, 1949; bachelor's degree, Brigham Young University, 1948; MBA, Northwestern University, 1949; CPA, Illinois, 1949; CPA, Utah, 1950; DBA, Indiana University, 1957)

Deseret news, March 9, 2016 (Robert Junius Smith; died March 4, 2016 in Provo, Utah; born Dec. 25, 1920 in Snowflake, Ariz.; parents: Samuel Francis Smith and Lulu Jane Hatch Smith; served as missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Southern States Mission; m. Nov. 5, 1945 in Salt Lake Temple to Lola Nielson, eight children; served in U.S. Naval Reserve, 1944-1946; served in church as bishop, stake president, regional welfare agent, and president of the Provo Temple; served mission with wife to North Carolina Raleigh Mission, sealer in Provo Temple; taught accounting at Brigham Young University for 18 years and did part-time public accounting work; served in administrative assignments at BYU for 18 years; retired as Financial Vice President)

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