Gonzaga Honors John Gabriel Smith ‘54

Saturday, October 14, was a special day on Eye Street as the Gonzaga community honored John Gabriel Smith ’54, the school’s first African-American graduate. During a dedication ceremony at halftime of the football game, the school unveiled the Gabe Smith Portal to Buchanan Field, which reads:

In recognition of John Gabriel Smith, Class of 1954, the first African-American graduate of Gonzaga. This entrance, made possible by the generosity of Onyx alumni, serves as a tribute to Gabe and an enduring symbol to young men—of all races and ethnic backgrounds—who follow in his pioneering footsteps on Eye Street.

Click here to see a story about Gabe that aired on News4 on Friday, October 13, the night before the dedication. Below, we've also pulled together some great photos and created a video recapping the day (click here to see the full ceremony). Thank you, Gabe, for being a pioneer and role model for us all!


Gabe Smith Portal Dedication (2017)
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