New sports complex at Fort Lewis College named for one of FLC and Durango’s biggest fans

Durango, CO: Dr. Duane Smith is a huge sports fan and now he has a landmark to prove it. On Tuesday, the Durango City Council voted to officially name the new recreation fields being built at Fort Lewis College the Smith Sports Complex after the longtime FLC professor.

Dr. Smith has served both Fort Lewis College and the City of Durango for many years. He 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 Athletic Director for External Operations & 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 due to be completed later this year.