History of the Restoration Movement


Lawrence L. Smith

1904-1980

Obituary On The Life Of Lawrence L. Smith

Lawrence L. Smith, former business manager of Abilene Christian University, died suddenly Sept. 9 at 10:45 p.m. in Colorado City.  He was 76.  

Smith was appointed the business manager in 1927 during his junior year at ACU and held that position for 42 years.  In 1969 he was appointed vice president for financial affairs, becoming treasurer in 1971.  When he retired in 1972, he was named treasurer emeritus.  

During his career, he served as part-time or full-time preacher for more than 90 congregations, mostly in Texas.  He was the son of G. Dallas Smith, a preacher, and the grandson of George Washington Smith, also a gospel preacher.  

Born May 24, 1904 in Weatherford, Smith lived in Bardwell, Ky., Dyer, Fayetteville and Murfreesboro, Tenn.  He moved back to Texas and in 1922 graduated from high school in Cleburne.  

Smith attended what was then ACC in 1922-23.  From 1924-27, he taught the fifth through the eighth grades at the Johnson County Public Schools and served as the principal of Mt. Carmel School.  It was a two-teacher, seven-month school, and Smith taught 25 classes a day for the three years he was there.

In 1927 Smith returned to ACC and graduated in 1929 with a bachelor of arts degree and permanent high school teacher’s certificate.  He received a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Texas in 1938.

Smith married Lula Cox, May 31, 1941, in Austin.

Smith-Adams Dormitory is named for him and Dean Emeritus Dr. Walter H. Adams.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Dallas Frank of Denton, Larry and Paul, both of Abilene; three daughters, Mrs. Curtis (Jo Katherine) Bagley of Fort Worth, Lee Ann and Sharon of Abilene; three sisters, Lucy Davis and Dede Wadzeck of San Angelo, and Mary Kornegy of El Paso; two grandchildren. 

Services were held Sept. 11 in the University Church of Abilene with Walter H. Adams, Paul Southern and Dr. John Stevens officiating.  

The family has requested that all memorials be sent to the Lawrence L. Smith Memorial Fund at ACU.  This fund will be used for suitable memorial in his name.

-Gospel Advocate, November 6, 1980, page 712.

Minister's Monthly, June 1960


click on photos to enlarge

Lawrence L. Smith was born at Weatherford, Texas, May 24, 1904. His mother, Katherine Lawrence Smith, now lives in Dallas, Texas. (as of this transcription in Abilene, Texas) His father, G. Dallas Smith, who died in 1920, was a well-known gospel preacher. Two of his uncles, John T. Smith and R.I. smith were preachers.

Lawrence L. Smith was baptized in 1918 by W. K. Rose. In 1929 he received his B.A. degree from Abilene Christian College. He received the M.B.A. degree from the University of Texas in 1938. He was appointed business manager of Abilene Christian College in 1927 and in 1929 taught Greek at the college, helped in starting the business administration department. He now serves as business manager and associate professor of business administration of Abilene Christian College.

He was married in 1941 to Lula Lucine Cox, daughter of Frank L. Cox. They have three sons and two daughters.

His first sermon was at Morgan, Texas, in the summer of 1919 when C. A. Buchanan was suddenly called away from a meeting. Brother Smith preached that night and has been preaching ever since. He has served the churches in Knott and Vealmoor, Texas (1942-46); Cross Plains, Texas (1947-51); and since 1952 has served the church in Dublin, Texas.

Brother Smith is one of the most useful men in the church. He is carrying on in a manner worthy of the fine example of his distinguished father.

-Selection from Minister's Monthly, June, 1960. Note: This is a timed piece. Lawrence Smith died in 1980, and his wife also now lives in Abilene, Texas as of 2012. Note also that Frank L. Cox was the editor of the Minister's Monthly when this edition was released, and his mother, the wife of G. Dallas Smith died in 1965 and is buried in San Angelo next to her husband.

Directions To The Grave Of Lawrence Smith

L. L. Smith is buried in Abilene, Texas in the Elmwood Memorial Park. The cemetery lies on the southern outskirts of the city of Abilene. From the west side of Abilene on I-20 take exit 283a and head south on Hwy 83/277. Go about 7 miles south and exit off on Hwy 277 South. Travel a couple of miles on Hwy. 277. The address is 5750 U.S. Highway 277 S. Office Phone: 352-692-0655. See Map Of Cemetery Here. Also buried here are E. R. Harper, J. D. Thomas, Jimmy Mankin, J. W. Roberts, Don H. Morris, and Willard Tate.

Elmwood Funeral Home & Memorial Park
5750 Hwy. 277 S.
Abilene, Texas 79606
Phone - 325-692-0655
Garden of Faith
Section D Lot 37
32°24'48.9"N 99°48'06.7"W
or D.d. 32.413584, -99.801870


Lawrence L. Smith
"He Did Right In The Eyes Of Jehovah"
1904-1980

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