Arkansas Tech Gets $1.55M Gift

Jawanda and C. LeMoyne Smith

The Arkansas Tech University Board of Trustees and ATU President Robin Bowen on Thursday recognized C. LeMoyne Smith of Little Rock for establishing a new $1.55 million endowment with the ATU Foundation.

The gift will help students in the university’s business college.

In addition, a decade ago, Smith established a research scholarship in the college. A portion of the research scholarship funds have been repurposed into the C. LeMoyne Smith Professorship, a fund that will support a college faculty member.

After graduating from Pottsville High School, Smith enrolled at ATU. He graduated from there with a degree in business in 1956.

Smith graduated taught in K-12 school districts and at ATU before he was hired by South-Western Publishing Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, to sell textbooks and other learning materials beginning in 1960. 

He was named president and CEO in 1982 and continued in that capacity for eight years. He retired in 1991 as chairman.

Smith has also served on the ATU College of Business Advisory Board and is a director emeritus on the ATU Foundation Board of Directors. He received ATU’s highest honor in 1988 when he was inducted into its Hall of Distinction.