President Larry Robinson issued the following statement on hearing the news:
“I was saddened to learn of the passing today of Florida A&M University’s seventh President and President Emeritus Walter L. Smith, Ph.D. Dr. Smith left an indelible mark as the University’s leader from 1977 to 1985, developing new academic programs and steering FAMU in the right direction,” said Robinson, FAMU’s 12th President. “We’re thankful for his leadership and celebrate his legacy and join the Smith family, friends and Rattlers around the world in celebrating a life dedicated to service and one well lived.”
Under Smith’s leadership FAMU grew from seven schools and colleges to 11, most notably he added the School of Journalism, School of Allied Health Science and the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and added the university's first Ph.D program.
He also went to bat for various on-campus construction projects, at a time when Board of Regents was reluctant to fund new facilities at FAMU.
“I went over their heads,” he said. “I went to the Governor and the Legislature, and had some success.”
Smith says his push for new campus facilities in the 1980s, including the renovation and expansion of Bragg Memorial Stadium.
Smith was a true son of FAMU, his family ties to FAMU go back to the 1930s, when his grandfather worked as a caretaker on the research farms operated on campus. Smith developed an intimate knowledge of the campus through his grandfather.
As a boy, he would ride on my grandfather’s wagon as he made his rounds,” Smith often said. “I walked the university grounds as a boy and got to know the place well.”
After leaving the presidency of FAMU, Smith traveled to post-apartheid South Africa to help that nation establish a community college system.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced.