D.A. (Don) Smith was a beloved Professor of History at Grinnell College, who taught from 1970 until 2006. Don passed away on August 10th, but left behind an enduring legacy in the way he shaped the life of the college, the history department, and his many students and advisees over the decades. Don taught a variety of courses on British history, an interdisciplinary (team-taught) course on the Enlightenment, and a vibrant seminar on Alexis de Tocqueville. Don played an important role in shaping the institution over the years, including his longstanding work with Georgia Dentel on the public events committee (bringing countless artists, performers, and groups to campus), his leadership as chair of the Faculty, and his involvement in establishing the College’s partnership with Nanjing University. Don was a dedicated teacher and advocate for the liberal arts, who will be sorely missed.
F. Morgan Taylor was one of Grinnell’s most decorated athletes of the 20th century. In the summer of 1924, while a student at Grinnell, Taylor won the U.S. Olympic trials for the 440-yard hurdle, setting a world record time of 52.6 seconds in the process (because a hurdle was knocked down, it did not count as an official world record). At the Paris games, Morgan again came in under 53 seconds, winning a gold medal (pictured here). In all, Morgan won four collegiate (AAU) titles, and two more Olympic bronze medals in 1928 and 1932 (loosing out to the famed British hurdler, Lord Burghley, who was fictionally immortalized in the film, Chariots of Fire). Morgan was widely respected by his colleagues and was elected as the captain of the U.S. track and field team for the 1932 Olympics (Los Angeles) as well as the official flag bearer for team U.S.A (pictured here) one of the highest honors in Olympic sports.
