Smart to be inducted into Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame

Clif Smart, former president of Missouri State University, will be inducted into the Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame, according to an announcement this morning from Lt. Gov. David Wasinger’s office.

Smart served in the U.S. Army from 1986-1990. He joined just after he graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law, spending four years in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting. He also was in the Army ROTC program at Tulane University.

After his service in the Army, Smart moved to Little Rock to start his career in private law practice. In 1992, he moved to Springfield to join what is now Strong Law PC and became a shareholder in 1995, according to past reporting. He joined MSU as general counsel in 2007 and served as president of the university, including one year in an interim capacity, from 2011 through his retirement last year.

According to Wasinger’s office, inductees in the Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame not only “served our nation in uniform but continued to give back through civic leadership, professional achievement and a lifelong support for fellow veterans.”

Under Smart’s leadership, MSU set new enrollment and state funding records, expanded the science and health care facilities, established the first doctoral programs and launched programs for developmentally disabled students, according to the news release. He was known for his dedication to the ROTC program and regularly participated in ROTC events on campus.

“The Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame honors the very best of our state – those who wore the uniform with pride and came home to serve again in our communities, schools and institutions,” said Lt. Gov. Wasinger, in the release. “These men represent the kind of character, commitment and service that define Missouri’s legacy of patriotism.”

In addition to Smart, six others were selected to be inducted: John Verle “Pete” Adkins, Wellsville; Richard A. Heigert, Arnold; Jim Mayer, St. Louis; Frank Robinson, Perryville; Roger Brooks Sherman, Sikeston; and Gen. Maxwell Taylor, Keytesville.

The 2025 induction ceremony will be held Oct. 24 in the Missouri Capitol. The event is open to the public.