Dr. George P. Smith

He was born February 19, 1920 in Rock Island, Illinois to George Dewey and Frieda Pearson Smith. He married Vivian Goin in 1953 in Peoria. He later married Edna Mattingly on March 10, 1967 in Galesburg, IL. She preceded him in death on December 28, 2005. His parents, and one son, Lowell Smith also preceded him in death.

Surviving is his daughter Karen L. Hoskins, his son Michael Smith, one granddaughter Samantha L. Hoskins, and one great granddaughter Sanai N. Sydnor all of Peoria

George attended Irving Grade School, Franklin Junior High School and Rock Island High School. He graduated in 1938, 7th in a class of 323. He received the Bausch & Lomb award as the outstanding science student. Soon after graduation, George was offered a scholarship to Univ. of Illinois, which was an employment opportunity that would pay his expenses to attend Augustana College. His father was in Washington, D.C. at the time and requested that he attend Howard University. Howard offered a tuition scholarship maintainable as long as he kept a B average. George graduated in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science Magna Cum Laude and was awarded the American Institute of Chemists medal as the outstanding chemistry student. During his senior year he was granted membership in Kappa Mu (now Phi Beta Kappa). He was offered further scholarships to graduate and attended professional schools.

During his junior and senior years he had worked as a laboratory assistant in an ESMDT course sponsored by the Defense Department at Howard University on the chemistry of powder and explosives. Upon graduation he was recruited by Triumph Explosive of Elkton, Maryland to what he thought was a job requiring this training. However one week after arriving, he was called in by management and told that they had just used Triumph's personnel department to locate him and the job for which he had been recruited was in New Jersey and he had no expertise in this field, He returned to Washington and upon the advice of a mentor declined the position and accepted a scholarship in the College of Dentistry. George received his DDS degree in September 1945 finishing first in his class. He was granted an instructor type fellowship and after one year, the university arranged through the Kellog foundation graduate training at the University of Michigan. He accepted at first, but for personal reasons, later declined and returned the stipend.

George was inducted into Xi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Howard University in April of 1940. He has since served as polemarch of the Springfield Alumni Chapter and as a charter member of the Peoria Alumni Chapter.

He volunteered for military service and was ordered to active duty as a 1st Lieutenant, dental corps,USA in November 1946. He chose separation as a Captain in February 1950. While in service, He took an extended leave and took and passed the Illinois state dental board. He was invited to return to the university in 1949 to be inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon, the honorary dental fraternity.

George opened an office for the general practice of dentistry in Peoria, Illinois in November 1950. He became active in the community serving on boards of directors of Neighborhood House and Carver Community Center, including a final term as president. He was elected to a three year term on the board of directors of the Association of Commerce. He was appointed to the Peoria Human Relations Commission by Mayor Robert Lehnhausen and served multiple

terms, the final one as chairman. George was appointed to the Illinois Human Relations Commission by Governor Otto Kerner in 1967 and reappointed by Governor Richard Ogilvie. He served until the election of Dan Walker. He became a member of the Illinois Valley Power Squadron with a seamen's rating. George joined the Bradley Flying Club and became a licensed student pilot 1974-1975. He obtained his amateur radio license, N9PSD, as a tech+ in 1982.

George was awarded life membership in the Peoria District Dental Society, Illinois State Dental Society and American Dental Association in 1984. He retired in 1989.

Upon retirement he went to Illinois Community College and took his first computer course, and completed with an Associates Degree. A Seniornet Learning Center was being set up in Peoria and he got on board. He was a member for over 15 years of the Steering committee, teacher and coach.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria. A Funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at the Ward Chapel Ame Church in Peoria, with visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Church. Cremation will be accorded following the service and a inurnment will be at Resurrection Mausoleum at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Donor’s Choice, Please vist George’s Life Story at www.woolsey-wilton.com