Edwin O. Smith

Edwin O. Smith
Member of the Connecticut House of Representatives
In office
1933–1960
Personal details
Born c. 1871
Albany, New York
Died October 28, 1960 (aged 89)
Willimantic, Connecticut
Political party Republican
Edwin O. Smith
Sport(s) Football, baseball
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1894 DePauw
1902–1905 Connecticut
Baseball
1902–1905 Connecticut
Head coaching record
Overall 18–17–1 (football)
13–9–1 (baseball)

Edwin Oscar Smith (c. 1871 – October 28, 1960) was a Connecticut politician who served 28 years in the Connecticut House of Representatives[1] and, from April through September, 1908, was president of the Connecticut Agricultural College,[2] which is now the University of Connecticut.

Biography

Smith was born in Albany, New York. He attended Wesleyan University, graduating in 1893.[1] He played professional baseball on teams in Hartford, Connecticut, and the Adirondacks region of New York and he was a baseball and football coach at Depauw University.[3]

Between 1901 and 1916 he was a member of the faculty of the Connecticut Agricultural College (now the University of Connecticut) in Storrs, teaching English and economics.[1] He served as the school's football and baseball coach for four seasons, from 1902 to 1905, compiling a 14–13–1 record in football and a 13–9–1 record in baseball.[4][5] From April through September 1908 he held the school's interim presidency.[2]

A Republican, Smith was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives in 1932 and served 14 consecutive two-year terms in the House. He was seeking re-election to a fifteenth term when he died from a heart attack on October 28, 1960. He also was a member of the Connecticut State Board of Education between 1935 and 1939. As a state legislator, he played a significant role in the enactment of legislation related to education and served as chairman of the Legislative Committee on Education that in 1954 established a formula for state government financial support of public schools.[1][3]

At the time of his death at the age of 89, Smith was the oldest and longest-serving member of the Connecticut General Assembly.[1]

E. O. Smith High School

E. O. Smith High School, established in 1958 as a regional school to serve the towns of Ashford and Mansfield, is named for him.[6] Originally part of the University of Connecticut campus, owned by the state, and operated by the university, it has been operated as a regional public school since 1987.[7] In 1993 the town of Willington was added to the region served by the school.[7]

Head coaching record

Football

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
DePauw Tigers (Indiana Intercollegiate Athletic Association) (1894)
1894 DePauw 4–4
DePauw: 4–4
Connecticut Aggies (Athletic League of New England State Colleges) (1902–1905)
1902 Connecticut 4–3
1903 Connecticut 3–5
1904 Connecticut 5–3–1
1905 Connecticut 2–2
Connecticut: 14–13–1
Total: 18–17–1

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rep. E.O. Smith, 89, of Connecticut dies, New York Times, October 29, 1960
  2. 1 2 Betsy Pittman (2008), University of Connecticut President's Office Records: Edwin O. Smith, 1908, Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut, archived from the original on September 7, 2008
  3. 1 2 Rep. E.O. Smith, Dean of the House, Taken by Death, Meriden Journal, October 28, 1960
  4. ↑ Connecticut Huskies Football History, NationalChamps.net website, accessed August 16, 2011
  5. ↑ http://sabrpedia.org/wiki/University_of_Connecticut
  6. ↑ Celebrating 50 Years, Edwin O. Smith High School website, accessed August 18, 2011
  7. 1 2 School / Region History, Edwin O. Smith High School website, accessed August 18, 2011

Further reading

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