William Boyd Smith

William Boyd Smith, 70, of Brentwood, TN passed away suddenly on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, many years too soon. A graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (MBA), Boyd spent 25 years in leadership roles in the banking industry. Over the next 10 years, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of a non-profit healthcare facility in Middle Tennessee and subsequently became a co-owner of a commercial real estate firm. Since 2009, he found great enjoyment in a career at Belmont University where he was a Professor of Practice teaching Business Ethics and the Director of the Kennedy Center for Business Ethics at the Jack C. Massey College of Business. He was energized by conversations with students, colleagues, and partners at Belmont and was deeply grateful for the circuitous route in business that led him to academia.

Throughout his life, Boyd found connections and leadership opportunities wherever he went. He was a proud Eagle Scout and leader in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at UT, both experiences bringing him lifelong friendships. Over his career, Boyd served on privately held and small business advisory boards and for not-for-profit and civic organizations’ boards of directors. A consistent theme is that he was known for being in service to others as a father, brother, grandfather, mentor, friend, and confidant. There was no limit on the time he would spend speaking to others about their joys, challenges, existential questions, business plans, and mundane life details; he had a unique way of building deep connections and being an expert listener. Boyd was a lifelong learner, bringing his passion for teaching, business, ethics, and connections to his professional and personal relationships.

He will be sorely missed. He is survived by his daughters, Emily Smith (Eric Crusius) and Sara Ann Smith (Michael Ringer Jr.); former wife and best friend, Ann Smith; grandchildren, Abigail and Graham Crusius; brother, Bob (Linda) Smith; and many beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Celebration of Life will be held at Belmont University Chapel (1803 15th Ave S, Nashville) Sunday, March 17 at 1pm followed by an informal reception. Campus map: https://www.belmont.edu/about/visit/campus-map.html

The Massey College of Business has established a student scholarship fund in Boyd’s remembrance. Donations can be made to the Boyd Smith Scholarship by contacting [email protected] in Belmont University’s Office of Advancement