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Smoot, L. Douglas (Leon Douglas)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1934 - 2020

Biographical History

L. Douglas Smoot (1934-2020) is an emeritus dean of the Brigham Young University College of Engineering & Technology, engineering professor and researcher in Utah.

Leon Douglas Smoot was born in Provo, Utah in 1934. He grew up in Springville, Utah. Smoot attended Brigham Young University (BYU) as an undergraduate from 1952 to 1957. He married Marian Bird in 1953. Smoot recieved his M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington in 1958 and then his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering also from the University of Washington in 1960.

Smoot began teaching at Brigham Young University in 1967 and was department chairman from 1970-1977, Dean of Engineering and Technology from 1977 through 1994, and Director of the Advanced Combustion Research Engineering Center (ACERC) from its beginning in 1986 to 1997. He retired from BYU in 2006.

In 1985, he participated in a research competition which resulted in the awarding of a grant to start ACERC. Smoot ran the Center for twelve years. He also worked for Lockheed, Boeing, and the California Institute of Technology, researching energy and combustion.

In 1995, he was set apart as an Area Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Utah South Area, and was ordained to the fifth Quorum of the Seventy in 1997. Smoot was also known for his work on restoring Brigham Young Academy, from 1995 to its dedication in 2001. He wrote a book on his work, entitled "The Miracle at Academy Square." He was a descendant of Abraham O. Smoot.

Smoot passed away on January 13, 2020.

Citation:
Pulverized coal combustion ... c1978 (a.e.) t.p. (L. Douglas Smoot, Brigham Young Univ.)

WWA, 1978-1979 (Smoot, Leon Douglas)

His Coal combustion and gasification, c1984: CIP t.p. (L. Douglas Smoot) data sheet (b. 1934)

Personnel, Brigham Young University, website viewed 4 September 2013 (L. Douglas Smoot; professor, chemical engineering, emeritus dean, College of Engineering & Technology, Brigham Young University; BS, Chemistry, Brigham Young University, 1957; BES, Chemical Enginnering, Brigham Young University, 1957; MS, Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 1958; PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of Washington, 1960; Senior technical specialist, Lockheed Propulsion Co., 1963-1967; Visiting assistant professor, California Institute of Tehcnology, 1966-1967; Founding director, ACERC, Brigham Young University; Professor, Brigham Young University 1960-present)

Mormon scholars testify, website viewed 4 September 2013 (L. Douglas Smoot; born in Provo in 1934; grew up in Springville, Utah)

Brigham Young University High School, Mar. 6, 2013(L. Douglas Smoot, b. 1934 Provo Ut., Springville Ut., m. Marian Bird 1953, Area Authority 1995, fifth Quorum of the Seventy 1997, restoring BYA, The Miracle at Academy Square, Abraham O. Smoot)

ACERC Personell-Brigham Young University, Mar. 6, 2013 (L. Douglas Smoot, BYU 1952-1957, UW M.S. 1958 Ph.D. 1960, Brigham Young University 1967, department chairman 1970-1977, Dean of Engineering and Technology 1977-1994, Director of ACERC 1986-1997, Lockheed, California Institute of Technology, Boeing)

Berg Mortuary website, via WWW, November 30, 2021 (L. Douglas Smoot; d. January 13, 2020)

Found in 4 Collections and/or Records:

5-year development plan : for the period 1978-1983

 File — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197231235414]
Identifier: UA 883
Scope and Contents

Outlines plans, anticipated growth, objectives, etc. for the Brigham Young University College of Engineering Science and Technology from 1978 to 1983.

Dates: 1978-1983

College of Engineering and Technology dean correspondence, approximately 1977-1987

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: UA 1032 Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence to and from the dean, L. Douglas Smoot, of the College of Engineering and Technology at Brigham Young University. Correspondence is in the form of memos and letters. Correspondence concerns department spending/budget, research, and other general administrative issues. Dates range from approximately 1977 to 1987.

Dates: approximately 1977-1987

The Miracle at Academy Square collection

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2940
Abstract

Contains an extremely detailed compilation (eight volumes) of official documents, correspondence, minutes, photographs, estimates, and records associated with the renovation of the old Brigham Young Academy building in Provo, UT. Also includes a CD with a digitized copy of each volume (excluding Vol. 3, written by L. Lee Bartlett).

Dates: approximately 1984-2003

L. Douglas Smoot papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7504
Scope and Contents

Collection includes correspondence, articles, awards, photographs, journals, calendars, and other memorabilia that document Douglas Smoot's professional life as a professor of engineering at Brigham Young University, religious, and family and personal life, including involvement with Academy Square in Provo, from 1907 to 2011. The collection consists mostly of methodically compiled scrapbooks that are organized by year rather than by content.

Dates: 1907-2011