Dr. George N. Smith
87, longtime Arizona educational leader and former superintendent of Flowing Wells School District passed away on December 10, 2014. George was born on February 11, 1927 in Safford, Arizona. He graduated from Thatcher High School in 1944. George excelled in all sports in high school, and was recognized as one of the finest basketball players in the state during his era. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945 and became a paratrooper. He married Mary Alice Ellsworth from Safford on June 3, 1947 in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. George played basketball for the national powerhouse University of Utah Runnin' Utes. His first job after college was head teacher/principal in the small farming town of Arlington, Arizona. After four years in Arlington, George became superintendent of the Flowing Wells School District. He was just 26 years old. During his 14-year tenure at Flowing Wells, the district became nationally known for excellence, a culture that continues to thrive nearly 50 years later. Although only in his 30's, George was recognized throughout the state and country as a leader in school planning, finance and leadership. In 1967, under George's leadership, Flowing Wells High School was recognized as the finest in the country. That same year, he was named superintendent of the Mesa Unified School District, where he served for the 18 years. During that time, Mesa became the largest school district in Arizona. In addition to his degree from Utah, George earned a Masters Degree from Arizona State and an EdD from Stanford University and Arizona State. After retiring from Mesa, George served as an Executive Vice President of Northern Arizona University. At NAU, he directed the effort to establish satellite campuses around the state. In 1992, George retired, and he and Mary Alice settled in Mesa. They served for many years as ordinance workers in the Mesa Arizona LDS Temple. Mary Alice passed away in 2004. Among his many positions, George was a member of the Arizona State Board of Education for six years, was founding president of the Arizona School Administrators Association, and was appointed twice by President Ronald Regan to serve on the President's Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Education. His son Scott was also involved in public life, serving as Mayor of Mesa from 2008 to 2014. George is survived by daughters, Diana Thomas (Charles) of Mesa and Jennifer Johnson (Richard) of Bountiful, Utah; sons, David (Laura) and Scott (Kimberly), both of Mesa; 17 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and his long-time companion and best friend, Shauna Setlow of Mesa. Funeral Services are Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Church Mesa Arizona East Stake Center, 2228 N. Brown Rd., Mesa, preceded by a Visitation at 10:00 a.m. at the church. A Visitation will be Friday, December 19, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the BUNKER'S GARDEN CHAPEL, 33 N. Centennial Drive in Mesa.