Henry Ladd Smith, Scholar In Journalism And Aviation

During a lifetime that spanned nearly nine decades, Dr. Henry Ladd Smith made his mark as a journalism historian and scholar, an authority in commercial aviation, and an academician who elevated the reputation of the University of Washington's journalism school.

Nonetheless, he never lost his love for newspapering.

"He was a newspaperman at heart. He just loved sitting down and writing a story," according to his wife, Gretchen Smith, who shared his life for 56 years.

Dr. Smith, who died Saturday, Dec. 9, at 89, began his career as a reporter at a Midwest newspaper. At his retirement in 1972, he was a professor in the UW's communications program, and had served as the department's director in the 1950s and acting director in the late 1960s.

His death at Group Health Hospital on Capitol Hill followed a stroke he suffered two years ago. "His health was deteriorating for some time," his wife said. He had been scheduled to undergo surgery yesterday morning.

Dr. Smith, a UW professor emeritus, was on the university faculty for 17 years. With degrees in history from Yale University and the University of Wisconsin, newspapering experience, and teaching credentials from the University of Kansas and the University of Minnesota to his credit, he became director of the UW's journalism school in 1955.

He preferred teaching, however, his wife said, and resigned the post after five years to return to the classroom.

"He was one of the originals as far as journalism education goes," said Don Pember, a professor and communications-law specialist in the UW's School of Communications. "He was one of the early people here who got involved in graduate education, training young scholars to do research in communication education."

Roger Simpson, associate professor and graduate director in the UW's School of Communications, credits Dr. Smith for presiding over some significant changes in the university's journalism program.

"It was his legacy to bring a number of very strong scholars to the faculty of the school," Simpson said. "He combined good writing and research with good teaching."

Dr. Smith co-authored a journalism history textbook, "The Press in America," which, according to associate UW professor Jerry Baldasty, "went beyond a recitation of names and dates, and explains why journalism history was important." The book, Baldasty said, "was very strong in terms of social history."

Dr. Smith also authored "Airways: The History of Commercial Aviation in the United States," and "Airways Abroad: The Story of American World Air Routes." Those books, part of the Smithsonian's history of aviation series, detail the early activities and personalities of airline pioneering.

Dr. Smith, who had a commercial pilot's license, celebrated his 86th birthday by climbing aboard a seaplane with a fellow pilot and taking a spin. The plane landed neatly on Lake Union.

He considered it quite a feat for a man who, as a young reporter, had interviewed Orville Wright, his wife said.

Besides his wife, Dr. Smith is survived by a son, Daniel Ladd Smith of Longview; a daughter, Deborah Keene Anderson of Poulsbo; two grandchildren, and a sister, Elizabeth Meleney of Silver Springs, Md.

No service is planned.