Hilton A. Smith

1908–1982

Hilton Smith joined the faculty of the university in 1942 in the Department of Chemistry. He was instrumental in developing the PhD program in chemistry, implemented in 1944. In 1961 he was named dean of the Graduate School. In 1966 he became vice president for graduate studies and research and in 1968 (when the university system was made operable) vice chancellor for graduate studies and research.  He was instrumental in establishing the Kingsport Graduate Center, the Chattanooga Engineering Graduate Center, the Memphis Branch of the College of Social Work, UT Space Institute, and the Oak Ridge School of Biomedical Science.

The author of more than 130 scholarly papers, Smith achieved national recognition for his research in the study of hydrogen isotopes. He isolated the isotope tritium, a form of hydrogen, which is used as a low-cost radioactive isotope. He received the Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies’ award for outstanding scientific research in the South in 1961. He received the Southern Chemist Award in 1967 for his research in catalysis and isotope chemistry and his contributions to graduate chemical education. Smith served on the Knox County School Board from 1952 to 1962. Upon his retirement in 1977, a graduate and postdoctoral nonservice fellowship program was established in his name.

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  • Title Hilton A. Smith
  • Coverage 1908–1982
  • Author
  • Keywords Hilton A. Smith
  • Website Name Volopedia
  • Publisher University of Tennessee Libraries
  • URL
  • Access Date July 14, 2025
  • Original Published Date
  • Date of Last Update October 16, 2018