Student managers (l to r) Dave Siple ‘58, “Ish” Smith ‘57
CELEBRATING GU’S CHAMPION OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP Robert “Ish” Smith, 1936-2021 By Carla Morris
Former GU President Robert “Ish” Smith seemed comfortable taking the lead. He presided over U.S. and world baseball organizations. He forged paths that brought baseball to the Olympics. He directed tournaments at three Olympics (with games that played to crowds of 40,000 or more) and garnered awards for steering the process. His work out front landed him in halls of fame and among the elite recipients of the Olympic Order.
But Coach needed Ish’s help and valued his help. Helping Strahl led to opportunities for Ish to grow—advanced degrees, collegiate coaching jobs, and administrative roles. Strahl ultimately opened doors that led Ish to engaging global leaders, influencers, and decision-makers. Along the way, Ish discovered that helping both informed and improved leadership.
Students who attended GU during the Smith era (1993-1998) will recall His work out front landed him in their president’s passion for servant halls of fame, yet his heart for leadership. Those of us who enjoyed serving others never wavered. working with Ish more recently will A sports lover, Ish arrived at GU recall his unflagging willingness to in 1955 wanting to play basketball help in any way he could. He shared and baseball. His mediocre skills university news with alumni, penned notes, encouraged would likely keep him on the bench, but it’s hard to deny staff, and prayed. He led by example even when his stride passion. Panther Coach John Strahl floated an idea. Ish weakened and his eyes dimmed. Presidential still, he showed could help Strahl by managing Panther teams. Ish wasn’t us that leading and serving belong together. sure what managing meant, but he agreed. In no time he was packing uniforms for trips, picking up sack lunches, toting equipment bags, and signing out keys for school cars. Management, it turned out, just meant helping. Still, when I asked Ish about the drive behind all this, he talked not about leading, but about helping.
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