Daniel W. Smith III ’79
Daniel W. Smith III ’79 died on February 11, 2020. Dan was a U.S. Army staff sergeant and lived in Nashua, New Hampshire. In 1975 Dan graduated from Dracut (Massachusetts) High School, where he was an accomplished student-athlete. At Dartmouth freshman year Dan majored in sociology and played defensive back for the 1979 Ivy Championship football team. Dan also was president of Alpha Phi Alpha, dorm chairman, and a member of the Daniel Webster Legal Society and Casque & Gauntlet. After Dartmouth he continued his studies in religion and philosophy at McGill University in Montreal. Dan rose to fame on the international bodybuilding circuit while serving in the Army in Germany, earning numerous titles. Upon returning to the United States, he competed in several national bodybuilding competitions, including the Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic. Within one year Dan became a professional bodybuilder and won 1989 Men’s Bodybuilding Overall at the Mr. North America Championship. “Dan was quiet, humble, thoughtful, and considerate,” according to teammate Buddy Teevens ’79. “He was an unselfish player who would perform in any role asked of him. He was admired and respected by all of us for his dedication and commitment to making our team successful. We all remember and will miss Dan’s smile and gentle demeanor.” Dan is survived by and will be deeply missed by sisters Keely and Tana, their families, and former wife, Cherise.
