BEATRICE -  A long-time Superintendent of Schools in Gage County  who advocated for rural schools, has passed away.  Milford Smith, of Odell died Thursday, at the age of 82.

Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home of Fairbury says Smith graduated from Chadron High School in 1956 and from Chadron State Teacher’s College in 1960.

Smith taught at several schools in Nebraska before becoming the Superintendent of Schools at Brewster. Then in 1972, he became the Superintendent at Odell Public schools where he served for 29 years.

Smith was appointed by Governor Ben Nelson as a member of the property tax review committee, serving on the governor's commission on local government innovation and restructuring committee.

Smith was awarded the District 1 Honor Award from the Nebraska Council of School Administrators in 1995 and in 2000 was awarded the Outstanding Superintendent Award by the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association. After retiring, he helped co-found the Nebraska Coalition for Education Equity and Adequacy to make sure small Nebraska schools had a voice in the Nebraska legislature.

Smith was active in the Odell Community Foundation, Odell Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, and served on the Village Board. He was a member of the Odell Area Community Enrichment Organization and was named volunteer of the year in 2007.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 27th, at the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Odell.