Carra Jones Smith '42: Continuing a Legacy of Support
Recent months have seen the loss of a trio of Alma College
alumni who have had a significant impact on the campus and students.
Arlan Edgar ‘49, who died last December and is profiled in the Winter 2008 issue of Accents,
taught at Alma for 35 years and was an active community member. Carra
Smith ‘42, who died Jan. 10, supported the College throughout her
lifetime. Lee Posey ’56, who died Feb. 29, modeled a life of service
and support to students in need. Following is a profile of Carra Smith.
Carra Jones ’42 Smith was part of a family whose legacy of generosity
and commitment was established at Alma College long before she enrolled
in 1938. She more than lived up to her family legacy in multiple ways
and remained a loyal supporter of her alma mater throughout her
lifetime.
Smith died Jan. 10, 2008 in her residence at Pathways Masonic Home in
Alma. She was 87. She is survived by her husband, Art Smith ’38, and
children Karen Smith ’66, Anne and Mike, grand children and great
grandchildren.
Art and Carra Smith were honored last summer by the Alma Red Cross for their support of the Prepare Gratiot program, which provides CPR and first aid training for school personnel in Gratiot County. The training resulted in the life saving of an Ithaca sixth grade boy who suffered an asthma attack in school.
“Art and Carra Smith have
made an impact on Alma College that is timeless,” said Carol Hyble,
vice president for advancement. “They took their love and commitment
for Alma and gave back generously to keep their alma mater moving
forward in a strong direction. They held the College close to their
thoughts, actions and hearts throughout their lives. Carra was a
gentle, gracious woman.”
Carra Jones was urged by her mother, Louanna Baker Jones ’12, to attend
Alma College to get a good education, so she enrolled in 1938 and
became involved in campus life. She was crowned the College’s first
homecoming queen on Oct. 29, 1938.
She also met Art Smith during her freshman year when Art was in his
first year as a coach at Alma. They married in June 1942 just before he
left for military duty in World War II. They returned to Alma in 1956,
where Art taught, coached and served as athletic director until his
retirement in 1978. Carra was a homemaker and raised their three
children.
Throughout their lifetimes, the Smiths supported their alma mater. In
1999, Carra and Art gave the naming gift to renovate the Smith Alumni
House. For their 60th wedding anniversary in 2002, Art established the
Carra Jones Smith Scholarship in his wife’s honor by donating $1,000
for each year of their marriage.
In 2003, the Smiths made a $1 million gift to encourage and inspire
alumni to donate to the College. The Smith Challenge had twin goals: to
raise $1 million in new or increased gifts over three years, and to
increase the number of alumni who gave to the College to 50 percent by
fiscal year 2005-06. The Campaign netted more than $3.8 million in new
and increased gifts.
In 2004, Carra established the Art Smith Alumni Endowed Fund to
celebrate Art’s birthday. The fund supports the annual Art Smith Alumni
Award, which is presented annually to an Alma College alumnus at
homecoming on the Smith Alumni House porch. The recipient is a graduate
who believes in Alma College and has assisted with student recruitment,
provided career steps through internships or employment, or visited the
campus to attend events, speak to a class, or serve on a college
council or board.
Also in 2004, Art and Carra received the George Hebert Distinguished Service Award for their ardent support of the College.
The Smith family legacy is recognized on campus. The Louanna Baker
Jones Auditorium, created as part of the Tyler-Van Dusen Campus Center
renovation project in 1983-84, is named after Carra’s mother. The
Baker-Jones Educational Unit in the Hogan Physical Education Center is
named in tribute of Louanna’s parents.
Carra’s uncle, William Baker, was a member of the College’s Board of
Trustees for 23 years and received an honorary doctorate degree.
Posted: Thu, March 6th, 2008 at 8:52AM
