RIVERSIDE (May 2, 2013)—Four generations of family members were among those gathered at California Baptist University May 1 for a ceremony to unveil a portrait honoring S. E. Boyd Smith, founding music faculty member who served from 1950-1957.

Dr. Judd Bonner, dean of the Collinsworth School of Music, welcomed the guests and stated that the legacy Smith established helped to create the foundation upon which the music school has grown through the years.

Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, CBU president, observed that Smith's sisters and numerous descendents present for the ceremony literally represented the concept of family reflected at institutions like CBU from one generation to the next.

Attending the ceremony along with Smith's three surviving sisters were four children, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Sue Johnson of Riverside recalled being a child when her father decided to remain at what was then California Baptist College during its early years, rather than return to the college where he had previously taught in Texas. Johnson voiced appreciation for the event recognizing her father's contribution.

 Smith's vision of excellence in education and passion for music were credited for initiating the university's practice of musical performance, presenting concerts at Southern Baptist meetings and churches. That tradition continues today as the Collinsworth School of Music sends musical groups across the nation and abroad, performing more than 400 times per year to combined audiences of a quarter million people.

Smith's legacy also includes a collection of hymnals he donated in honor of his father, P. Boyd Smith, who helped establish CBU and became its first president. Featuring hymnals from the 12^th century to modern times, the collection represents 40 denominations in more than 20 languages. The collection is indexed on the Library of Congress OCLC data bases and housed in the Annie Gabriel Library on the CBU campus.

 Emeritus business professor Dr. Robert K. Jabs, who recalled carpooling to work with Smith, and Dr. L. Dean Lowe, Smith's student and the first music graduate of CBU, both offered personal remembrances of Smith.  Lowe then led the gathering in singing the CBU Alma Mater, which was written and composed by Smith.

 

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