Gary Smith, recently retired Associate Director of Bands, directed and conducted the nationally famous Marching Illini, Basketball Band, and Symphonic Band II, shared conducting responsibilities with James Keene for Symphonic Band IB, and taught marching band procedures and band arranging in the School of Music.

He received his B.A. from Butler University and M.A. from Ball State University. During his first four years of teaching he directed the marching, concert, and jazz bands at Northside High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. From 1968 to 1972 he was the Director of Bands at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana. During 1972 to 1976 Mr. Smith was Assistant Director of Bands at Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Much of the excellence exhibited by his ensembles is attributed to his insisting on only the best from every band member. Having become Director of The Marching Illini in the mid 1970s, he revived many distinguished traditions and started many more. The pregame show that has become a tradition was written by Mr. Smith, and the style of The Marching Illini, both in drill and music, has been his doing.

In 1988 he was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In addition, he is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi music honorary fraternities and participates in the College Band Director's National Association, National Band Association, and the Illinois Music Educators Association. He has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor throughout the United States. Several of his articles have been published in The Instrumentalist and the Band Director's Guide.