By Sean McDevitt
FightingIllini.com
Longtime University of Illinois athletics fan and donor and one of the namesakes of the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center, Betty Mood Smith, passed away on March 25 in Springfield, Illinois, at the age of 90.
Honoring their late father, Henry Dale, and mother, Betty, and their great passion for Illinois football, the Smith family and the H.D. Smith Foundation named the Fighting Illini Football Performance Center after their parents in 2019.
Betty was born and grew up in Columbia, South Carolina, graduating from the University of South Carolina in 1950 where she graduated first in her class, alongside her identical twin sister, Ann Crockett. She married Henry Dale Smith, of Spartanburg, South Carolina in a double wedding with her twin, Ann, soon after graduation. Both grooms were Citadel cadets.
Betty was very involved in the Springfield community as a loyal member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, as president served as president of the Springfield Junior League and the Sunnyside Circle, as an active in King's Daughters and the Philanthropic Educational Organization. Gardening was a big passion for Betty, and she was honored by her loving husband with the creation of the Betty Mood Smith Rockery and the Betty Mood Smith Groundcover Labyrinth in Washington Park.
"The Illini Family mourns the passing of Betty Smith, the namesake of our Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center. It was my great privilege to spend time with Betty during the last years of her life. I was struck by her humility, good humor, and loyalty, and we remain grateful that she chose to dedicate so much of her time and support to our athletic program," Director of Athletics Josh Whitman said. "I see her many wonderful qualities exhibited every day by her sons Dale and Chris, and I know her memory will live on in the hearts of her family and friends. I am glad that she lived to see her family's generosity make such a lasting difference on our athletic program, and our Smith Football Center will stand as a memorial to her memory and the memory of her beloved husband for generations."
Betty and Henry Dale were enthusiastic sports fans, especially their adopted team, the University of Illinois.
"The Smith family is one of the most enthusiastic Illini families I've ever seen," said Howard Milton, Senior Associate Athletics Director, Development. "It was always a pleasure to see them at football games decked out in all their gear. I have fond memories of my time with Betty, Henry Dale, and the entire family. We mourn the passing of Betty and extend our condolences to the family."
The couple had four sons, Henry Dale, Jr., Rogers Mood, James Christopher and D. Andrew.
On behalf of the entire Illinois athletics family, our sincere sympathy goes out to the Smith family.
