A business leader, philanthropist and devoted friend of the College, Smith supported Illinois College with extraordinary generosity alongside his wife, Deborah Klang Smith ’75, a former Illinois College Trustee. Together, they established the Richard T. Fry Faculty Collaboration Endowment, which encourages faculty scholarship and collaboration in support of student learning. Through their generosity, faculty and students continue to benefit from distinctive academic opportunities each year.

Born in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and raised in Springfield, Illinois, Smith earned a degree in political science from Davidson College before joining the H. D. Smith Wholesale Drug Company in 1974. Over the course of his career, he held leadership roles throughout the company and, as chief executive officer, helped guide its growth from a regional enterprise into a nationwide business employing more than 1,000 people. His leadership earned him numerous honors, including Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for Illinois in 2005 and the healthcare distribution industry’s prestigious Nexus Award in 2016.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Smith was deeply committed to civic and philanthropic service. He served Westminster Presbyterian Church for decades and provided leadership to organizations including the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, Springfield Memorial Foundation, SIU School of Medicine and other community institutions. Through their family foundation, Dale and Deborah supported causes important to them, including education, the arts, medical research and the natural world.

Smith will be remembered for his generosity, integrity, leadership and belief in the transformative power of education. Illinois College is grateful for the lasting impact he and Deborah have made on faculty, students and the future of the College.