Jimmy Hiram Smith, OHS 1957

(1-13-1939 to 6-11-2012)

Jimmy Hiram Smith was born in Odessa, Texas on January 13, 1939 to Jewell Hester Walker Smith and Hiram Smith. Jimmy passed away peacefully at home in Lubbock surrounded by his family on June 11, 2012. He was married to his life-long sweetheart, Mary Agnes Rinehart Smith in 1959 and they were blessed with three children.

Services will be held at 4pm, Saturday June 16, 2012 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church (3708 45th Street in Lubbock) officiated by The Reverend Charles Carmen.

Dr. Smith joined Texas Tech University in 1971 as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. From 1987 to 2010 he was Director of the Murdough Center for Engineering Professionalism and the National Institute for Engineering Ethics (NIEE) at Texas Tech University.

He earned his bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering from Texas Tech University and a PhD in civil engineering from the University of Arizona. In addition to his love of teaching and dedicated research in structural engineering, he diligently served ABET, ASCE, NSPE and TSPE. Jimmy most recently devoted himself to promoting engineering ethics and has received several awards for his work both in the technical areas and in engineering ethics.
Jimmy personally promoted ethics across four continents, proudly produced three ethics movies, edited books and published many articles. Jimmy has received numerous honors and awards including: Engineer of the Year (Texas Society of Professional Engineers), Distinguished Engineer of the Foundation and Fellow (Texas Engineering Foundation), Distinguished Service Award (National Society of Professional Engineers), Engineering Dream Team (Texas Society of Professional Engineers), 2001 Engineering Ethics Award (Gonzaga University, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho), and inducted as Fellow American Society of Civil Engineers and National Society.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his mother Jewell Hester Walker Bridges Smith, father Hiram Smith, and two brothers: Leon Bridges and John Thomas (JT) Bridges.
In addition to his loving wife, he leaves behind three children, and their spouses: Christopher and Mary Elizabeth Smith, Jennifer and Jeffery Manley, and Karen and Robert Granfeldt. He will always be Papa to his eleven grandchildren and two great grandchildren: Matthew Smith, Melissa and Greg Deckert and their son , Caleb, Andrew Smith, Ciara Smith, Quinton Smith, Melanie and Ryan Anderson, their daughter, Emory, Ashley and husband Carson Brazil, Brooke Manley, Grayson Granfeldt, Cameron Granfeldt, and Kalen Granfeldt.
Nieces, Nephews and their spouses: Charlene Alba, Hoppy Bedell, Mike and Judie Bridges, Zona and John Armijo, Johnny and Debra Bridges, Ronny and Cindy Bridges, Scott and Jamie Bridges. He was also blessed with many more relatives and cherished friends.
 

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the "Texas Tech University - Jimmy Smith Memorial Scholarship" fund at Texas Tech University, care of Patty Harper, P.O. Box 41023 Lubbock, TX 79409. Arrangements by Resthaven Funeral Home and condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com