Complex man: Carl Smith loved UVA

Legendary UVA donor Carl Smith, shown here in a 2001 picture, died December 8 after a long illness. Smith gave $23 million five years ago toward the $100 million overhaul of Scott Stadium. More recently, he donated $22 million for a planned 100,000-square-foot performing arts center to take the place of the Cavalier Inn on Emmet Street.

"It's somewhat embarrassing, of course," the Charlottesville resident told a young reporter shortly after the athletic complex was re-christened the Carl Smith Center.

Smith's most controversial legacy may be the $1.5 million he gave in 2003 to create a marching band. UVA officials seized the opportunity to deny the Pep Band access to football games after that student-run group performed some skits that embarrassed UVA president John Casteen.

Smith– whose wealth Virginia Business magazine measures at $500 million– was a UVA scholarship student from Wise County. He founded a fuel extraction company called Amvest.

Carl Smith
FILE PHOTO BY JEN FARIELLO