Curt Smith
Senior Lecturer in English
BA State University of New York at Geneseo
Presidential rhetoric; American presidents of the radio/television age; sports broadcasting, especially but not limited to baseball, football, basketball, and hockey; public speaking
Research/Writing interests
Curt Smith wrote more speeches than anyone for former President George H.W. Bush. He is the author of 12 books; has hosted XM Satellite Radio, National Public Radio affiliate, Smithsonian Institution, and Baseball Hall of Fame series; has been named New York State’s best radio commentator; and has written for ESPN TV and many newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. Smith joined the University of Rochester faculty in 1998. He teaches public speaking using video, text, and class lecture to show effective language and delivery. His other course, Presidential Rhetoric, explores how U.S. presidents communicate by press conference, text address, and extemporaneous speech. Says NBC broadcaster Bob Costas: “Curt Smith stands up for the beauty of words.”
Selected publications
Author
- The Voice: Mel Allen’s Untold Story, Lyons Press 2007
- Voices of Summer: Ranking Baseball’s 101 All-Time Best Announcers, Carroll and Graf 2005
- What Baseball Means to Me: A Celebration of Our National Pastime, Warner Books 2002
- Storied Stadiums: Baseball’s History through Its Ballparks, Carroll and Graf 2001
- Our House: A Tribute to Fenway Park, Contemporary 1999
- Of Mikes and Men: The Best Tales of Football’s Best Announcers, Diamond Communications 1998
- Windows on the White House: The Story of Presidential Libraries, Diamond Communications 1997
- The Storytellers: The Best Tales of Baseball’s Best Announcers, Macmillan 1995
- A Fine Sense of the Ridiculous, Diamond Communications 1995
- Voices of the Game: The History of Baseball Broadcasting, Simon and Schuster 1992
- Long Time Gone: The Age of Turmoil Remembered, Icarus Press 1982
- America’s Dizzy Dean, Bethany Press 1978
Forthcoming
- Pull up a Chair: The Vin Scully Story, Lyons Press 2008
Teaching
Courses in presidential rhetoric and public speaking; helps to oversee the English department's internship program
Recent undergraduate courses
- Presidential Rhetoric (spring 2007)
- Public Speaking (spring 2007)
- Internship program (spring 2007)
Honors, Fellowships, and Professional Activities
- Named to Judson Welliver Society of Former Presidential Speechwriters
- Current host, XM Satellite Radio Voices of the Game broadcast series from National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York
- Perspectives, weekly public affairs series on National Public Radio affiliates WXXI Rochester and WNED Buffalo, New York
- Columnist: Gatehouse Inc. Newspapers, Major League Baseball official website MLBlogs, and Jewish World Review politicalmavens.com.
- “Best in New York State” radio commentary, Associated Press and New York State Broadcasters Association
- Wrote and co-produced ESPN TV’s Voices of the Game documentary series; researched ABC TV’s SportsCentury series
- Member, Museum of Broadcast Communications and National Radio Hall of Fame steering committee; oversaw 2007 induction of Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Ford C. Frick Award, National Baseball Hall of Fame broadcast committee; State University of New York at Geneseo and Rochester’s Frontier Field halls of fame
- Finalist, Seymour Award, Best Baseball Book of the Year (Storied Stadiums)
- Recipient, Writers and Books Literary Award for contribution to western New York audience
curtsmith@netacc.net
(585) 275-4260
520 Morey Hall
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