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Smith, Wilford E., 1916-2010

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1916 - 2010

Biographical History

Wilford E. Smith (born 1916) was a Mormon missionary and college professor in Utah.

Wilford Emery Smith was born May 16, 1916, in Holladay, Utah. He grew up on his family farm and attended Irving School in Holladay. From 1932 to 1934, he attended Granite High school. In April 1935 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. On September 2, 1936, he was called to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand and served there from 1936 to 1939.

After his mission he attended Brigham Young University with the intention of training to become a school teacher. He also met Ruth Christensen in 1939 and they married on August 31, 1940. They had five children. He transferred to the University of Utah in 1940. In June 1943 he graduated wth a bachelor's degree from the School of Education with a major in sociology and a minor in psychology.

In 1944, he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Army and served in the South Pacific during the Second World War. He was awarded battle stars for the Leyte and Okinawan campaigns. He was an active reservist from 1946 to 1976 and retired as a full colonel, receiving the Meritorious Service Medal. He became a professor of sociology at Brigham Young University in 1948 after completing his master's degree in Educational Administration and received his Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 1952.

In 1981, he was called to serve as a mission president in the Fiji Suva Mission. He has served in various other positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as well as on multiple educational boards.

Citation:
Wilford E. Smith papers, 1934-2000 (Wilford Emery Smith; born May 16, 1916 in Holladay, Utah; family farm and attended Irving School in Holladay; attended Granite High school, 1932-1934; joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, 1935; September 2, 1936, he was called to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New Zealand and served there from 1936 to 1939; attended Brigham Young University; met Ruth Christensen, 1939; married on August 31, 1940; five children; transferred to the University of Utah, 1940; graduated wth a BA in the School of Education with a major in Sociology and a minor in Psychology, 1943; commissioned as a first liutenant in the army, 1944; served in the South Pacific during World War II; awarded battle stars for the Leyte and Okinawan campaigns; active reservist from 1946 to 1976 and retired as a full colonel receiving the Meritorious Service Medal; professor of Sociology at Brigham Young University in 1948; master's degree in Educational Administration; Ph.D. at the University of Washington in 1952; called to serve as a mission president in the Fiji Suva Mission, 1981)

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Wilford E. Smith personal narratives

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 2112
Scope and Contents Includes four volumes of autobiographical writings and two volumes of poems, essays, addresses, messages to his children, and other information. Autobiographical writings reflect his early life in Holladay, Utah, 1916-1934; work for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Utah, 1935; Latter-day Saint mission to New Zealand, 1936-1938; experiences as a student athlete at Brigham Young University, 1939, and the University of Utah, 1940-1943; service as a chaplain in World War II; experiences as a...
Dates: approximately 1980-1998

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