Thornton, Smiths receive honorary doctorates

The college bestowed Jim Thornton ’94 and Louis and Mary Kay Smith with honorary Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Humane Letters degrees, respectively, during commencement on May 6.

Thornton works in Atlanta as the Georgia Municipal Association’s Director of Government Relations, a role he began in November 2022 after serving nine years as Mayor of the city of LaGrange.

In his current role, Thornton oversees the association’s legislative advocacy team and represents the interests of its 537 member cities. Within the organization, he has served on the Board of Directors, Legislative Policy Council and Federal Policy Council. He also chaired its Municipal Government Policy Committee, co-chaired its Equity and Inclusion Commission and completed a term as its president.

Louis and Mary Kay Smith are retired professionals whose passion for education is exemplified through their establishment of student scholarships at LaGrange College, an institution with deep ties to their family.

Rufus Wright Smith, who was Louis’ great-grandfather, served as President of LaGrange College from 1885-1915. Smith Hall, the college’s oldest building, was named after Rufus’ wife, Oreon. Louis’ grandfather Herbert Mann Smith was a United Methodist minister, professor and Dean of Students at the college. Guy Smith, Louis’ father, was born in Smith Hall and moved at the age of 4 to Texas, where Louis and Mary Kay first met.

They both attended Rice University in Texas, where they received bachelor’s degrees in engineering and French, respectively. Louis would go on to earn a graduate degree in mechanical engineering from Rice University, while Mary Kay graduated with a master’s degree in French from Stanford University.

After college, Louis served in the U.S. Army for two years in France. He then went on to work for Exxon, a company he would remain with until his retirement. Louis’ career began with various engineering assignments that eventually evolved into business analysis and international negotiations, which he made on behalf of Exxon in 35 countries.

Members of LaGrange College’s Rufus Wright Smith Lifetime Giving Society and the Quadrangle Society, Louis and Mary Kay funded a $1 million endowed scholarship in 2018 to support first-generation college students. In March 2020, they committed to giving $5 million to create a Global Engagement endowment to fund the Smith Travel Grant to assist students with study away expenses.

Jim Thornton ’94, who was the keynote speaker at commencement, received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He served as mayor of LaGrange for nine years.

Mary Kay Smith (center) and her husband Louis have been longtime supporters of the college. She earned an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree with Louis at commencement. Pictured with the Smiths are Board Chair Kathy McCollum ’81, M’17 (left) and President Susanna Baxter.