Governance

George Otis Smith, geologist was born in Hodgdon, ME on February 22, 1871 the son of Joseph O. and Emma (Mayo). S. A.B., Colby College, 1893, A.M., 1896, LL.D., 1920; Ph. D., Johns Hopkins, 1896; Sc.D., Case Sch. Applied Sci., 1914, Colorado School of Mines, 1928. Mr. Smith married Grace M. Coburn of Skowhegan, ME, on November 18, 1896 and they have 5 children, Charles, Joseph, Helen, Elizabeth and Louise.

He engaged in work as a geologist in Michigan, Utah, Washington and in N.E. from 1893 to 1906, assistant geologist and geologist from 1896 to 1907, dir. U.S. Geological Survey from 1906 to 1930, except 1922-23 while a member of U.S. Coal Commission; chairman Federal Power Commission from December 1930 to November 1933. Smith served as trustee of Colby College, University of Chicago. He is a fellow of Geological Society of America, A.A.A.S.; member Coal Mining Institution of America (hon.), Americian Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers (past president), American Forrestry Association, Washington Academy Sciences, Mining and Metallurgical Society of America, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, National Geological Society (trustee), Phi Beta Kappa, etc.

Mr. Smith is the author of reports on aerial, economic, petrographic and physiographic geology in U.S. Geological Survey publications. He has also authored papers and addresses on economics of mineral and power resources and administration of scientific work by govt.; editor and co-author of Strategy of Minerals, 1919.