With immense charisma and unassuming presence, Tee Smith, brightened the lives of young scientists who entered the Carl C. Smith Graduate Student Award competition. This competition was established in 1982 as the first-ever graduate student award sponsored by SOT under the auspices of the Mechanisms Specialty Section. Its rigorous standards of excellence served to inspire the achievements of many at the individual and collective levels. The award was not only among the first Society efforts to recognize excellence in toxicological research, but also became a foundational process for the evolution of organized fund raising efforts within the Society. Tee and her late husband, Carl, single-handedly oversaw the graduate student competition process from their home office for many years and presented the awards year-after-year to winners at the Annual Meeting, even during retirement. Due to their strong aversion for flying, they traveled long distances by car to attend the Annual Meeting to enrich the lives of members of the Mechanisms Specialty Section and to directly interact with students competing in the program. Their vision, passion, and dedication inspired many within the Society and beyond. Today, we stand together to applaud Tee’s efforts and to express our gratitude for all that she gave of herself to enrich the lives of others. Her legacy will continue to live on…
Ken Ramos, MD, PhD, ATS
2008-2009 President of the Society of Toxicology
1982 Honorable Mention, Graduate Student Award Competition