East Texas A&M University Athletics

 Lewis Ingraham "L.I." Smith was one of the founding fathers of the Lone Star Conference. A long-time faculty athletic representative for A&M-Commerce when it was known as East Texas State Teachers College, Smith was instrumental in the formation of the LSC in 1931 and served as it's first president until he requested to step down in 1936.

He was re-elected to the post in 1945 and served until 1950 when he stepped down as the university's faculty athletic representative. Smith authored the LSC Constitution, along with L.E. King of Sam Houston State and Theron Fouts of North Texas State, in 1931.

The business manager and a mathematics professor from 1917 until 1951, he was the faculty athletic representative most of his tenure. Former A&M-Commerce president Dr. F.H. "Bub" McDowell stated that "Smith did more than anyone else to upgrade athletics at ET and the LSC."

He was inducted into the A&M-Commerce Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981 and the LSC Hall of Honor in 2005.

Additionally, Smith served as mayor of the city of Commerce, was a founding member of the Commerce chapter of Lions Club International, was a leader in the Commerce Boy Scouts of America and president of the Lone Star Area Council of BSA.