Michael Magnus Smith

Michael M. Smith of College Station, Texas passed away February 13, 2023, after a long battle with cancer. Michael was born in 1954 in Oakland, California to Harold Crabbe Smith and Claire Grace Smith. Michael lived in San Diego, California; Bellevue, Washington; and Des Plaines, Illinois before moving to Dallas, Texas in the early 1970’s. He graduated from North Texas State University in 1977 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. He worked for several firms during his business career, including Coopers & Lybrand, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and Sprint. Michael returned to the University of North Texas and earned his Master of Library Science degree in 2000. He then accepted a position at the former West Campus Library at Texas A&M University in 2001. He rose to the rank of Associate Professor and served for several years as Director of the West Campus Library until his retirement in 2016.

Michael loved reading, art, photography, auto racing, and music especially rock n’ roll. At the time of his death, he was compiling a bibliography of psychedelic music from the 1960’s to the 2000’s.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Mary Ann McPhaul; his sister-in-law, Suzanne Smith; his brother-in-law, John V. McPhaul; and his nephew, Colin Lamb.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jane A. (McPhaul) Smith, his son Stephen; his daughter-in-law, Jennifer; and his twin grandsons, Cade and Sawyer, of who he was the most proud. He is also survived by his sister, Christine Lamb of Bishop, California; his brother, Dan Smith of Orange Park, Florida; his niece Meghan Bair and husband Ned of Mammoth Lakes, California; his father-in-law John A. McPhaul of Austin, Texas; brothers-in-law Mike McPhaul of Lubbock, Texas and Glenn McPhaul and wife Patricia of San Antonio, Texas; sisters-in-law Julie McPhaul and Carol McPhaul of Austin, Texas; nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

It was Michael’s wish to be cremated and his ashes be spread over a waterfall. Private services to be held at a later date.