William “Billy” Smith is alumni ambassador

Alumni ambassador William “Billy” Smith graduated from East Texas State University in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and obtained a master’s in Theatre in 1981. Smith has several great memories of attending the University.”Attending recitals of Charles Nelson, my choir director at ETSU and also the brother of Byron Nelson the golfer; swimming at Turkey Creek; fishing out at Jerry Bigg’s house; voice lessons with Bill Abbott; and working with Kay Cougenhouer,” Smith said.”Since graduation, I have done a little professional theatre, taught elementary school music, served as artistic director for a couple of professional theatres, taught college music and theatre, initiated the first musical theatre major in the state of Wyoming, served two terms on the Wyoming Arts Council, and served as president for the Rocky Mountain Theatre Association,” Smith said. “Recently I have served as the vice president of auditions for the Southwest Theatre and Film Association.”According to his wife, Colleen Smith who is president of Cisco Junior College, “Billy is way too humble about the amazing things he has accomplished. He has directed and designed over 75 main-stage productions and has had five different shows selected as Regional Showcase winners adjudicated against competing Universities by the Rocky Mountain Theatre Association.” Of all the shows Smith has directed he has no particular favorites. He “directed and designed a really cool production of Chicago and produced it during the O.J. Simpson trial,” Smith said. “I’ve produced The Robber Bridegroom twice and plan another production this summer. I really like the play that I wrote called The Great Santa Claus Bank Robbery, which I have produced twice and produce regularly every other year.” However, he feels some of his greatest accomplishments have taken place out of the spotlight. Smith has directed, designed sets, and supervised lighting for college and professional theatre. He “built a wooden sailboat in 1986, which I still have and sail, hunted elk in Wyoming for many years, raised several very good dogs, now raise cattle, and married the love of my life and live in paradise,” Smith said. “Although it’s not on my resume, building the wooden sailboat in back yard is one of my accomplishments of which I am most proud.”Smith is currently the director of Performing Arts at Cisco Junior College and has a lot of advice for students. “Read between the lines of your professors. Learn all that you can from them that is not said in the classroom. Watch how they work and see what about them has made them successful. Success is a habit – demand it of yourself,” Smith said. For students about to graduate, Smith had this advice, “Go to graduate school now. Don’t wait. Make plans even before you graduate. You can do it. Find your inner strength and apply it.”