Kay and Gary Smith

Background

Dr. Gary C. Smith worked for over three decades with the meat judging program at Texas A&M University. His enthusiasm, ambition, and tireless work were responsible for bringing unparalleled success to this program. Friends and former students wanted to honor Dr. Smith for his years of dedication to the team by establishing a scholarship in his name. In 1990, the G.C. Smith Scholarship Fund was created, and scholarships from this fund have been awarded to outstanding students yearly.

In 2014, the scholarship fund’s name was changed to the “Gary and Kay Smith Scholarship Fund” in memory of Dr. Smith’s beloved wife, Kay, who passed away in December 2013 after a very long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. Kay’s love and support of the students involved in the meat judging program will be something that we all will remember. Gary and Kay Smith have impacted generations of Aggies, and we will be forever grateful for their positive influence in the lives of so many.

The scholarship

The purpose of the Gary and Kay Smith Scholarship is to provide financial assistance to meat judging team members who excel in both the classroom and in the meat cooler. Awarded annually from only the interest generated by the fund, the scholarship provides an opportunity to invest in the future by supporting students today.

Donations

Donations can be made to the Department of Animal Science, 2471 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2471. Checks should be made payable to the Texas A&M Foundation with the Gary and Kay Smith Scholarship in the memo line.