Franklin Smallwood ’51

Franklin Smallwood ’51, Ph.D., a distinguished member of the Dartmouth faculty and administration and a committed Vermont public servant, died on October 3, 2013, at his home in Shelburne, Vermont. He is survived by his wife, Ann, four children and 11 grandchildren. Teaching was Frank’s first love. He served Dartmouth from 1957 to 1992 as the Nelson Rockefeller Professor of Government. He was “occasionally sidetracked into college administration,” as he put it, serving as assistant to President John Sloan Dickey, founding director of the Nelson Rockefeller Center for Public Policy, acting dean of the faculty and vice president for student affairs. He pioneered interdisciplinary programs, including those in African and African-American studies, women’s studies and Native American studies. He received Dartmouth’s Presidential Service Award for his many contributions to the College. Frank was a Vermont state senator and chaired the Vermont State College Board and the governor’s commission on higher education planning. He also served as master of statewide reapportionment. As an undergraduate he was managing editor of The Dartmouth and a member of the Undergraduate Council, Green Key, Delta Tau Delta and Casque & Gauntlet. He received his class’ Spirit of ’51 Award. Frank earned master’s and doctoral degrees in public administration at Harvard. In describing Frank, daughter Sandra ’78 said, “He did everything with enthusiasm: writing songs, organizing parades, photographing the ‘Family Follies,’ genealogy, rock and fossil hounding, astronomy, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, singing, drawing, eating ice cream, tap dancing, and cutting rails at his family home.”