New Award Named for Alumnus Honors Razorback Marching Band Leaders

At the end of his first year as director of the Razorback Marching Band at the University of Arkansas, Benjamin Lorenzo was looking forward to taking part in a time-honored tradition that bands across the nation participate in – a student awards ceremony.

But as he reviewed the awards the band had given out over the years, he noticed something: they tended to only recognize students for their service.

“Those awards are important, and they play an important role in our organization,” he said. “But we needed an additional plaque in our hallway to recognize our members not only for their service, but for their leadership, and their contribution to the spirit and morale of the band.”

That’s when Lorenzo realized he could honor future students while also commemorating a former band member who’s given the organization so much over the years – Robert Smith.

Honoring Smith with the creation of the Robert M. Smith Band Member of Distinction Award was a natural fit.

After all, as a 1972 alumnus of the Razorback Marching Band, Smith played saxophone for Richard “Doc” Worthington and then was part of Eldon Janzen’s, director of bands emeritus, first bands on the Hill

After graduation, Smith embarked on a career in finance, but by the time Lorenzo came on board as a member of the band staff in 2015, Smith had reconnected with the university and it wasn’t uncommon to see him sitting near the band at Homecoming, attending a rehearsal, or taking a walk around campus to find his name on the University of Arkansas’s renowned Senior Walk.

Over the years, Smith got involved in the program’s outreach efforts, helped grow its scholarship program, and even supported an upgrade to the band’s uniform for rainy game days.

“It was clear that his enthusiasm was infectious and his commitment to bettering the lives of those in the band was having an impact,” Lorenzo said. “Which is exactly what the best leaders among us do.”

Lorenzo decided the award that bears Smith’s name should likewise go to a student who demonstrates the ability to encourage and motivate their peers while also displaying the kind of leadership that boosts the morale of those around them.

“They need to be outgoing, friendly and supportive – Robert exemplifies a lot of the qualities we wanted to reinforce in an award,” Lorenzo said.

Now, each year the Robert M. Smith Band Member of Distinction Award recipient will be identified and awarded by Lorenzo and the assistant director of the Razorback Marching Band, Jeffrey Summers.

This year, the duo selected Benjy Baugh, snare drummer and section leader of the Razorback Drumline, to receive the award.

“I was honored and, honestly, surprised to receive the award,” Baugh said.

A student in the Sam M. Walton College of Business, Baugh will complete an internship with PwC in the spring and will graduate in May with a major in accounting, likely headed on a finance-related career path – another thing he and Smith have in common.

“Serving as section leader has been a challenge, and I’m confident I’ll be better off in my future career because of my involvement with the Razorback Marching Band,” Baugh said.

Likewise, Smith, too, said he was deeply honored that this award now bears his name and recognizes students like Baugh.

“I don’t know anything else you could have done that would have made me any prouder,” Smith said. “Having my name associated with the Razorback Band is an honor. I have truly been blessed in my life and my career. Real happiness comes from being able to share one’s blessings with those that we love. Heaven knows that I love the Razorback Band, and I am, indeed, very happy.”