Robert Smith (philanthropist)

Robert Hilton Smith (July 21, 1928 - December 29, 2009 Winchester, Virginia) was a successful builder-developer, and philanthropist.

Business

His father founded Charles E. Smith Co. in 1946, which grew to become one of the largest commercial and residential landlords in the Washington D.C. area, managing of office space and more than 30,000 residential units.

He and his brother-in-law, Robert P. Kogod, took charge of the company in 1967. He oversaw construction and development, and Kogod led leasing and management. He became chairman of Charles E. Smith Co. Commercial Realty, a division of Vornado Realty Trust, and chairman of Charles E. Smith Co. Residential, a division of Archstone-Smith Trust, both REITs listed on the New York Stock Exchange. They are best known for spearheading the development of the Crystal City complex in northern Virginia.

Philanthropy

Smith gave generously to the University of Maryland, College Park, his alma mater. The Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, College Park, was named in his honor in 1998 to recognize his gift of $15 million, the largest gift the school had ever received. He continuously supported its programs, subsequently making additional generous gifts as the school has expanded and risen in prestige. The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, completed in 2001, is named for his wife.

Interestingly, the Kogod School of Business at the American University in Washington, DC, is...
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