Master Joseph L. Smith 1944-2001
	Click here to see a 1979 video clip of Master Smith practicing kata

Joseph Lewis Smith was born in 1944 in the small town of Wesson, Mississippi.  He was the son of a Baptist Minister and one of 11 children.  By the time he was in high school Joe and his family had moved to the friendly community of Gibson City, Illinois.

    Joe was very athletic and played basketball, baseball, track and was the captain of the 1963 championship football team.  After graduating in 1963, Joe enlisted in the military.  He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division stationed at Camp Schwab, Okinawa. The photo above was taken of Master Smith on Okinawa in 1965.

    From 1963 to 1965 Joe studied Isshinryu under Grandmaster Shimabuku at the Agena Dojo.   After re-enlisting, Joe was assigned to the HMM265th Division in Viet Nam.  While there he studied under Master Don Bohan.  Joe was promoted to Ni-Dan by Master Bohan before leaving Viet Nam.

    Joe was honorably discharged in 1967 and returned to Champaign, Illinois.  He continued to practice Isshinryu and in 1978 founded the first Isshinryu Karate class in Central Illinois.

    Joe retired twenty year veteran of the Champaign Police force Joe was the former Training Manager and head of the Control Tactics Division of the Police Training Institute, University of Illinois. Master Smith was  one of the original board members of the OKU.

    Master Smith was awarded numerous accommodations including; "The Governors Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement Training", "Police Medal of Valor", "Police Officer of the Year" (twice), and the Okinawan Karate-Do Union's highest honor the "Shimabuku" award.

    Master Smith was promoted to 9th degree Black Belt by the Okinawan Karate-Do Union June 16, 2001.  He was a founding father of the OKU, served on the original Board of Directors and continued to serve in this capacity until the time of his death. Master Smith passed away from a rare heart condition on June 19, 2001.

     There has been some misinformation published and communicated about who Master Smith considered to be his instructors. From Master Smith's senior student, Sensei Dan Jones, we have been advised Master Smith considered himself first a student  of Grandmaster Shimabuku, then Master Bohan.  He considered his adopted teachers to be Master Wheeler and Master Long.

     Sensei Dan Jones, continues Master Smith's legacy along with several hundred loyal students.

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