Ross Smith

Ross Kennedy Smith
SMITH WINSTON-SALEM - Mr. Ross Kennedy Smith, 54, died Sunday, July 19, 2009 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem. Mr. Smith was born April 7, 1955 in Washington, DC. to Nat E. Smith, M.D. and Marguerite D. Smith. Mr. Smith attended Columbia University and graduated from Wake Forest University in 1982 with a Bachelor' s Degree in Economics. Ross was Director of Debate at Wake Forest University. He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Gibson D. Smith. While Director of Debate at Wake Forest University, Ross coached two National Debate Tournament Champions (1997 & 2008), two National Debate Tournament runners-up (2006 & 2009), coached the Rex Copeland Award winner in 1995 (Top ranked team during the regular season), coached the Top Speaker at the National Debate Tournament (1988), and was recipient of the George Ziegelmueller Coaching Award for distinction in the communication profession and competitive excellence at the National Debate Tournament (2009). For over 25 years Ross led debate workshops and wrote debate hand-books at Wake Forest University. He was the main innovator of the process of debate as it is today. Ross' students were deployed throughout the middle and high schools in Winston-Salem to give students the opportunity to participate in debate. Ross was instrumental in the Inaugural Debates which were promoting debate at historically black colleges and universities. He was involved in the EPA Debates also. At the time of his passing he was doing research for ongoing projects in the University' s new graduate program in bioethics and public moral argument. Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Jayne Craig-Smith of the home; son, Alex Smith of Winston-Salem; mother, Marguerite D. Smith of Winston-Salem; and siblings: Jennie and Andrew McLaurin of Ferndale, Washington, Nat and Bonnie Smith of Hampstead, NC, Catherine and Reynolds Lassiter of Winston-Salem, Sarah and Mark McHugh of Western Springs, IL, and Andrew Smith of Winston-Salem. He is also survived by several aunts and uncles, eighteen nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, father-in-law, Billy R. Craig of Winston-Salem and mother-in-law, Norma Craig of Winston-Salem. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 23, at 11:00 a.m. at Wait Chapel at Wake Forest University. A reception will follow at Carswell Hall in the Old Law Library at Wake Forest University. Entombment will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Salem Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.. Wednesday, at Salem Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ross K. Smith Debate Fund at Wake Forest University, P. O. Box 7227, Winston-Salem, NC 27109. Online condolences may be made through www.salemfh.com.