presence there would be of some help. I recognized that there would always be one crisis or another which might delay my education, so I applied for a Carl Raymond Gray (Union Pacific) Scholarship. The scholarship only amounted to one hundred dollars and it was awarded to me in the spring of 1946. At that time, I was also active in the Future Farmers of America Association at the Columbus High School, and I was named the First Star Farmer of Nebraska in April 1946. After we had finished picking corn in 1946, my parents agreed that if I were going to enroll at the University that I should do so in January of 1947. I followed their advice and was graduated from the University of Nebraska in June of 1950. 1 returned to Butler County where I taught a class of agricultural veterans in the county intermittently for seven years. I also began farming there in the spring of 1950.
   In August 1950, I was married to Irene Squire to [sic] Ashland. We are the parents of ten children, Marcia, Mary, Steven, Julie, John, Micelle, Sue, Jean, Lori, and Michael; daughter-in-law Diane, two grandchildren, Paul and Ryan Schmit, and a son-in-law John Albin.
   During the entire time that I was in the University and after I began farming I continued my interest in politics and the Republican Party. I worked in a number of congressional campaigns, including the late R. D. (Bob) Harrison, of Norfolk, Nebraska, who became my very close friend. I also worked in the Eisenhower and Nixon campaigns in 1952 and 1956.
   1 was elected to the Board of Directors for the Columbus Production Credit Association, a position which I held for twelve years. At the time of my election to that Board, I was the youngest director in this region. I served as Director of the Bellwood Watershed for twelve years. In 1959, I was elected State Chairman of the Nebaska [sic] Young Republicans.
   In 1960, I made my first attempt to be elected to a major political office when I filed for the Republican nomination to Congress from the 3rd congressional district. I ran second in the field of four candidates. Ralph Beerman was nominated and later was elected to the Congress. In 1966, I again filed for the Republican nomination to the Congress from the new 1st congressional district. I was defeated that time by Robert Denny, who was elected to the Congress.
   In 1968, I filed for the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature and was elected to my first four year term. I was subsequently re- elected in 1972 and 1976, and I am again a candidate for that same office in 1980.
   In 1978, I made another attempt to be nominated to the Congress and was defeated again by Douglas Bereuter, who is serving as a Congressman in the 1st congressional district.
   During my legislative career, I introduced the following bills that were passed into law.
   In 1969, I introduced LB 521 which created the Office of the Ombudsman, the first Consumer Protection Agency which provides consumer protection from an over aggressive state government; in 1971, I introduced LB 939 which created the Department of Environmental Control and established the Department of Environmental Control Council with broad representation from agriculture, industry, business and conservation groups. This department has been one of the most successful environmental state agencies in the nation.
   In 1971, we passed LB 776, which established the Nebraska Agricultural Products Industrial Utilization Committee, popularly known as the Gasohol Committee. Though ridiculed for my efforts at that time, Gasohol has today become an international word and has been recognized by President Carter and members of the Congress as one of the major alternate sources of energy available to citizens of the United States. I have been recognized, both here and abroad, as the "Father of the Gasohol Movement," an honor which I must share with many others. The development of this source of energy could well be the most positive factor affecting agriculture in many years.
   In 1973, LB 312 was introduced and passed into law, which allowed banks to have two auxiliary teller offices.
   In 1973, LB 477, the Catastrophic Illness Bill, was introduced to provide relief to citizens from the devastating

effects of illness not covered by medical insurance. This bill is of particular importance to farmers because farm families frequently possess non-liquid assets which are unavailable for the purpose of paying such bills but are considered as available resources which prevent farm families from participating in the other assistance programs which are available to non-farm families. This bill is designed to keep families from becoming impoverished by medical expenses before receiving some assistance.
   In 1973, LB 101, the Physicians Assistant Bill, was passed which provided badly needed medical assistants for doctors in rural areas to better serve rural constituents.
   In 1976, LB 703, the Medical Malpractice Bill, passed by a large margin, provided for the retention of adequate medical personnel in this state by providing limitations to the amount of malpractice claims.
   In 1977 introduced and passed in 1978, LB 258 made available to the Nebraska banks for lending purposes to citizens for their use more than one hundred million surplus state dollars while earning competitive rates.
   In 1977, LB 518, and in 1980, LB 882, repealed the personal property tax on livestock, farm equipment, and business inventory resulting in a more positive economic climate for Nebraska's agriculture and business.
   I introduced the bills which established the drug abuse control program within the Nebraska State Patrol.
   I introduced and passed into law a series of child support payment bills later copied by many states.
   I refused to accept federal domination of agricultural chemicals by adopting Nebraska's own plan for education and training of farmers, ranchers, and commercial applicators of chemicals --- one of the two states in the nation which refused to accept federal dictates. The Nebraska plan operates for a fraction of the cost estimated by the federal government.
   As Chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, I introduced the bill which provides for the joint construction of a School of Veterinary Medicine by the Old West Regional Commission member states. Also, as Chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee, I was instrumental in securing the Vice Chancellorship for the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources by legislative action.
   In 1971, I was nominated to the Eagleton Institute as one of the fifty outstanding state legislators in the United States.
   I serve as Chairman of a National Committee of State Legislators Committee on Renewable Energy, and was the first Nebraska State Senator to be named Chairman of a National Conference of State Legislatures Task Force (a 100 member Committee on Agriculture and Food) representing more than 7,000 state legislators.
   I serve as Chairman of the Beef Anti-trust Committee, which successfully negotiated an agreement between livestock producers and chain stores resulting in a cash settlement for the producers, and an agreement not to engage in certain practices detrimental to livestock producers and feeders.
   During the time that I was involved with my political career, I continued to expand my farming operation into Butler, Saunders, and Holt counties. I also established, in 1967, the Mid-America Helicopter Services, Inc., which I operated until March of 1977.
   All of my professional and commercial activity has been connected with agriculture. When our ancestors founded this nation, it is my belief that they intended that it should be governed principally by citizen legislators who would leave their businesses, farms and professions for a period of time to assist our neighbors in the governing of the country. I do not believe it was ever intended that politics should be a lifetime career. I am now almost 51 years of age and I hope that during my lifetime I have been able to make a small contribution for the betterment of the state and nation as a farmer, livestock man, pilot, and politician.
   Schmit was also inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Agriculltural [sic] Achievement in 1980.
   Since 1917, the organization has honored one or more

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people annually for substantial contributions to the agricultural interests of Nebraska.
   Schmit is the 77th honoree for the award. He was selected by the organization's board of trustees and cited for "dedicated and effective representation" of Nebraska's rural interests.
   Schmit was awarded a plaque and his photograph will hang in the Garden Room of the C. Y. Thompson Library on the University of Nebraska - Lincoln East Campus.

Senator Loran Schmit

Dr. Fay Smith

   Fay Smith was born in Bellwood, Nebr., March 21, 1909, the youngest of eight children. His parents, Phillip and Mary E. Smith, were early settlers in Butler County where they farmed until retiring and moving to town. One sister, Mary, still lives in Bellwood with her husband, Fay M. Smith. The duplication of names has always caused consternation to the public and is amusing to the family.
   Fay attended 11 grades in the Bellwood school and graduated from Lincoln High School with the class of 1927. He received his pre-med training at Nebraska University where he enjoyed playing first trumpet in the University band. He graduated from the University College of Medicine in Omaha and interned at the University Hospital. Dr. Smith began his clinical practice in Imperial, Nebr., on July 1, 1934.
   On October 29,1931, he married Ruth Jo Sandall of York. They were introduced by Josephine Wagner, later Sorensen, from Bellwood. Both girls were classmates at Business School in Omaha.
   Two daughters were born to the Smiths, Sylvia Ann Burke of Imperial and Carol Fae Maddux of Wauneta. There are seven grandchildren. The oldest, Dr. James Fay Burke, is a resident in Scottsdale Memorial Hospital, Scottsdale, Ariz. His specialty? Family Practice!
   During the demanding years of active practice in Imperial, Fay somehow found time to expand his medical knowledge and at the same time lead an active community and family life. He was a school board member for 12 years

and served two terms as Mayor. A new Community Hospital was completed during his years of practice. He was a Past Grand Master of Masons in Nebraska, both a York Rite and 32nd Degree Mason, and belonged to the Tahama Shrine Temple at Hastings, Nebr. He belonged to O.E.S. and the Elks Lodge and was a Past District Governor of Lions International.
   He was an involved member of the Methodist Church. At the time of his death he was a member of the Official Board of First United Methodist Church in Omaha. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Nebraska Wesleyan University.
   Fay enjoyed politics, participated at the local, state and national levels. He was elected a delegate to the Republican National Convention four times. He served on the National Civil Rights Commission under President Eisenhower.
   Dr. Smith practiced medicine in Imperial for 31 years. He was a past state president of the Nebraska State Medical Association and a past president of the University of Nebraska Alumni Association. He was a member of the A.M.A., the American Academy of General Practice and the International College of Surgeons. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Blue Cross-Blue Shield, a member of the State Board of Health, and prior to his appointment to the Health Board he was a concerned member of the State Hospital Advisory Board. He served on the Governor's Committees of Mental Health and Crippled Children.
   On June 1, 1965, he joined the faculty of the University of Nebraska College of Medicine as Professor of General Practice. This was a "first" in the medical schools of the United States, the beginning of the increasing interest in the family type of medicine. He was coordinator of Continuing Education and helped in the planning of the first family practice clinic at the Medical Center. In 1967 he was appointed Assistant Dean.
   He suffered a massive stroke on September 21, and died October 2, 1968 without regaining consciousness. During his 59 years his compulsion was to somehow make the world around him a better place for others. He was a modest man. Seldom did he miss an opportunity to return to Bellwood, especially on Memorial Day when he could greet old friends. He was truly a "Family Physician."

Dr. Fay Smith

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