|
Innovative Central Texas Teacher Dies After Battle With Cancer
A former business executive who became a public school accounting teacher and helped establish a free tax preparation service at Waco's A.J. Moore Academy that earned national recognition has died after a short battle with cancer.
|
Ron Smith (WISD photo)
|
15 Comments 
WACO (July 29, 2010)-Ron Smith, an accounting teacher at Waco's A.J. Moore Academy, died early Thursday morning after a short battle with cancer.
Smith joined the A.J. Moore faculty in the fall of 2002 after 34 years in the business world, bringing with him knowledge in business and finance from his tenures as chief fiancial officer of major energy corporations, Principal Angela Reiher said.
In 2004, he helped started the school’s Internal Revenue Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program in which students are certified every year to complete electronic tax returns for the area residents at no charge.
Since the program started, students have prepared more than 7,200 tax returns, saving taxpayers about $1.2 million and resulting in about $10.5 million in refunds.
The program was so successful that Smith and A.J. Moore both received national recognition from the Internal Revenue Service.
He was named teacher of the year by his peers in 2007 and received the Zeta Phi Beta Educator of the Year award in 2009, Reiher said.
He received a KWTX Golden Apple Award in the spring of 2009.
Funeral arrangements were pending Thursday.
Latest Comments
Mr. Smith was truly a great and inspirational man. I could go to him for help on pretty much anything. His death was a hard obstacle to overcome but the thought that he is no longer in pain anymore gets me through. No matter what he was going through or how much pain he was in, he never showed it and always had a smile on his face. I am glad that I had the honor to know and work with him. I will never forget all that he has taught me.
Mr. Smith really was one of the best teachers I had in my 4 years of High School. I learned so much from him,, and he's the one of the reasons I'm going to stay on the Finance path. He was an inspiration because he taught me how to prepare taxes and it's something I'm always going to remember. I still can't believe he's gone, but I know that he'll always watch over everyone. Love and Miss You lots Mr. Smith.
Thank you to everyone for your kind words about Uncle Ron and his commitment to AJ Moore and his students. He truly loved his students and was always proud to share their accomplishments at family gatherings. He will be missed greatly, but it is such a blessing to know that his wisdom and teachings will live on in the students for whom he cared so deeply.
