JUST ABOUT everywhere Whitney Smith Williams went, someone would want to talk about her father.
"Your dad helped me get into college," they would say. "Your dad gave me the opportunity to get a higher education."
Even in the hospital when her father was in his final illness, a young man came up to her and expressed his sympathy - but not without adding: "Your dad helped me get into college."
Scores of men and women leading successful lives today never would have gotten the education that led to their success without the help of Eldridge Witherspoon Smith Jr.
As director of admissions for Temple University in the '70s and '80s, Eldridge was in a position help people not only with the admissions process, but also with the encouragement that many needed to be convinced that they could succeed in college.
Eldridge Smith, the first African-American to hold the job of director of admissions at Temple, who in later years worked with special-needs high school students, died Oct. 25.
He was 72 and lived in Mount Airy.
"He would encourage people to apply to college," his daughter said. "He would recruit people he thought would do well. He was a strong advocate for education.
"Many of these students were first-generation college students, and found success when being recommended to meet with him at Temple University for an opportunity for admissions.
"He was looking forward to continuing in this service of helping others enter college, and frequently held coversations about it, up until his passing."
Eldridge, called "Butter" by family and friends, was born in Philadelphia to Eldridge W. Smith Sr. and Josephine A. Smith. He graduated from West Philadelphia High School at the age of 16, and went on to Cheyney University, where he received a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education.
He received a master of education degree in school counseling from Temple in 1973.
Eldridge worked for a time for Opportunities Industrialization Center and Philco Ford before becoming assistant director for a special recruiting program at Temple aimed at increasing minority enrollment.
He was named assistant director of admissions, and then director in 1977.
He finished his career at Temple as a director on special assignment in the Office of Community Relations at Temple University Hospital, before going into the public-school system. He retired in 2010.
Eldridge married Theresa King in 1969. The marriage ended in divorce, and he married Norma Jean Hill in 1988.
Eldridge was a man of simple pleasures in his private life. He was an ardent sports fan who enjoyed getting together with friends and family to watch the Eagles and the Sixers.
Besides his wife and daughter, he is survived by a son, Evan Wade Smith; two stepsons, Richard and Robert Hill; a brother, Robert Smith; three grandchildren and a step-granddaughter.
Services: 11 a.m. Friday at Vine Memorial Baptist Church, 5600 W. Girard Ave. Friends may call at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Eden Cemetery, Collingdale.
