Kit Bond Citizen Leadership Award Dinner

Clif Smart has been a leader in higher education and entrepreneurship in Missouri the last twenty years, most recently serving as the eleventh president of Missouri State University until his retirement in June of 2024. Under his leadership, the University set enrollment, fundraising, and appropriations records, developed new degree programs, upgraded facilities, and became a leader in southwest Missouri in entrepreneurship through the development of the Roy Blunt Jordan Innovation Center and the efactory. It partnered with Burrell Behavioral Health to begin a new Doctor of Psychology degree program, and with CoxHealth, Ozarks Tech, and Springfield Public Schools to begin the Healthcare Alliance.

In recent years, Smart served as chair of the Missouri Partnership, the Council of Public Higher Education, the United Way of the Ozarks, and the Mercy Springfield Communities Boards.  He is serving or has served on the boards of City Utilities, CoxHealth, the Springfield Daily Citizen, the NCAA, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Innovations, Inc., Arc of the Ozarks, the Library Foundation and Isabel’s House. An attorney, Smart twice made the three judge panel for the Missouri Supreme Court and was elected to serve as one of two lawyer members of the Greene County Judicial Commission. Smart has lived in Springfield for more than 33 years, is married to Gail Smart who was recently elected to the Springfield Board of Education, and has two sons and six grandchildren.

Past Honorees

With 40 years of distinguished service as Missouri’s 47th and 49th governor, then as a four-term United States Senator, Christopher S. “Kit” Bond has earned a reputation as a skilled statesman able to build coalitions. In 1982, Governor Bond worked with state legislators and key private citizens to create the Hawthorn Foundation, a partnership between talented business leaders and state government aimed at attracting, promoting, and retaining business within the state of Missouri. Over the years, Senator Bond has dedicated himself to promoting Missouri’s interests. His goals have been and continue to be generating more partners, customers, and suppliers in our state and enhancing the tax base by bringing new jobs to the Midwest. He has been described as “an original Missourian” and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of the Hawthorn Foundation and its endeavors.

The Kit Bond Citizen Leadership Award was established by the Hawthorn Foundation Executive Committee. The recipient is to be either a regional or statewide leader who has exemplified a commitment to the Hawthorn Foundation’s mission.