Joe embodied Gonzaga Prep's mission of accessibility, having funded his education by contributing 50 cents a week earned from his newspaper delivery route while a student. His unwavering dedication to learning led him to earn a Ph.D. in electrical engineering, and he subsequently served as the leader of Kaiser Aerospace and Electronics Corporation for 26 years. Dr. Smead was a founding member of CU Boulder’s Aerospace Engineering Sciences External Advisory Board and, along with his wife Ann, established the department's endowed chair and was later awarded the College of Engineering and Applied Science Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award. Joe and his wife, Ann, have been remarkable supporters of Gonzaga Prep through their exceptional generosity.