New Smith Sports Complex at Fort Lewis College to be dedicated on September 14

Durango, CO – The Smith Sports Complex, named for Fort Lewis College Professor Dr. Duane Smith, will be officially dedicated on Friday, September 14, 2012, at 12 p.m. The complex is located at 700 Talon Rd on the edge of the FLC campus. The dedication is free and open to the public.

In February, the Durango City Council voted to officially name the new sports complex after Dr. Smith in appreciation for the many years of service that he has given to both Fort Lewis College and the City of Durango. Dr. Smith was the founder and former chairman of the Durango Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. This organization is responsible for providing leadership and vision for the City’s parks, open space, trails, and recreation facilities.

At Fort Lewis, Dr. Smith has become an educational institution unto himself. He first came to FLC in 1964 as an assistant professor in the History Department. Since then, he has become an expert on the history of the College, as well as Durango, and one of FLC’s most beloved and respected professors. Among his many honors is a 1990 Council for Advancement and Support of Education Colorado Professor of the Year Award.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. Smith is an avid sports fan. His love for the Skyhawks and the Chicago Cubs is well known. He and his wife, Gay, can often be found in the stands at Skyhawk games. Dr. Smith is also well known for his-to put it delicately-propensity for loudly sharing his views, both positive and negative, during games.

“Duane Smith has been one of the most vocal and loyal supporters of Fort Lewis College and Skyhawk Athletics for nearly 50 years,” says Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications Chris Aaland, a longtime Skyhawk fan himself. “His support of the Skyhawks in the stands is contagious. People show up early to games just to sit within earshot of him.

“More so than just heckling referees and opposing coaches, though, Duane has taught thousands of Fort Lewis students a further appreciation of athletic history through his ‘Baseball and the American Dream’ history class at Fort Lewis for decades,” Chris continues. “It’s fitting that these fields will bear his name because they sit in the shadows of the La Plata and San Juan mountains. No single person has done more to chronicle the rich history of this region and the interesting characters who have called it home than Duane Smith.”

The new Smith Sports Complex is a 15-acre multi-use facility located on the western edge of campus. The complex is a result of a partnership between Durango and Fort Lewis College to provide athletic fields for all to use and enjoy.