STEVE SMALLING ’78 PROFILE

STEVE SMALLING ’78

BAYLOR FUND LEADERSHIP DONOR BAYLOR BACKER GREAT WORK! SOCIETY There is an irreplaceable treasure tucked away in a safe deposit box in Steve Smalling ’78’s house that illustrates his affection for Baylor. “I thought so much of Baylor after graduation that, in the summer before I started college, I sat down and wrote maybe 500 pages of memories of things that happened at Baylor. I made it through almost the end of my second year and it was time to go off to college,” he laughed. “I am keeping it in a safe place and plan to read it when I retire.”

As a boarding student from the small town of Jasper, Tenn., Steve says Baylor was a life-changing experience and gave him confidence to do more, including earning an MBA from the Wharton School of Business. “Without Baylor I wouldn’t have had the motivation or the thought that I could even do that. I don’t know how Baylor does it, but the teachers just seem to know what different students need in order to excel, to be happy, and to have a good experience in school.”

Steve is still making memories at Baylor by supporting the Celebrations auction every other year, joining a few classmates at football games, and attending some basketball and baseball games. He also gives to The Baylor Fund each year and has included Baylor in his estate plan as a member of the Great Work! Society. “I give out of an appreciation and joy for everything Baylor did for me. I feel an obligation to do my part.”

I DON’T KNOW HOW BAYLOR DOES IT, BUT THE TEACHERS JUST SEEM TO KNOW WHAT DIFFERENT STUDENTS NEED IN ORDER TO EXCEL, TO BE HAPPY, AND TO HAVE A GOOD EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL.”