Name Kenneth Smith Died January 21, 2008 | ||
02-20-19 Community Chapel in honor of Kenneth B. Smith, Sr.
The Rev. Kenneth Bryant Smith, Sr. (February 19, 1931 – January 21, 2008) was a Chicago-area community leader and minister.
Smith was born in Montclair, New Jersey. After earning a bachelor's degree at Virginia Union University in 1953 and a master's degree from Drew University in 1954, he came to Chicago in the late 1950s to attend Bethany Theological Seminary, then located outside the city. He was ordained by the United Church of Christ and began his career as an associate pastor at the Congregational Church of Park Manor. From there, he founded the Trinity United Church of Christ, before pastoring long-term at Church of the Good Shepherd in Washington Park. From 1984 to 1999 he served as president of Chicago Theological Seminary, and from 1979 to 1982, he held membership on the Chicago school board. In 1996, he received the Chicago History Museum "Making History Award" for Distinction in Public Service.