Peter Garthwaite Smith ’46

The class lost one of its great leaders when Pete Smith died Aug. 16, 1995, at his home in Birmingham after a courageous, eight-year battle with cancer.

Pete grew up in South Orange, N.J., and graduated from the Northwood School and Exeter. Pete served in the Army Weather Service during the war in the Pacific Theater and returned to the campus in the spring of 1946.

Pete played 150-lb. football, joined Whig-Clio, and graduated in 1948 with honors from the Woodrow Wilson School. After graduating from Yale Law School, Pete practiced for three years in N.Y.C. before joining the Southern Natural Gas Co. as an associate. He became president of Southern Natural Gas and vice-chairman of its parent organization, Sonat. He retired in 1985.

Pete was chairman of the Univ. of Alabama's capital campaign. He was sr. warden of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, chairman of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and president of the Birmingham Festival of Arts.

Pete was class secretary from 1981-86, president from 1986-91, and was chairman-elect of the Alumni Council. In 1994 Pete received the Distinguished Alumnus award given annually by the Alumni Council. Even within days of his death, Pete continued to help with plans for our 50th reunion.

Pete leaves wife Nancy, daughters Amy Scott and Abigail Kropp, sons Tony and Tom, and nine grandchildren. We send our sympathy to Pete's family. We can all be proud of our late president and the courageous example he set.

The Class of 1946