Dr. Mark E. Kurtz will join the ranks of a distinguished group of inductees in Smithville Schools Distinguished Alumni Wall of Fame. A ceremony will be held on Friday, September 26, 2025, during Homecoming.
Smithville Schools Wall of Fame honors some of the district’s most outstanding graduates who have distinguished themselves and contributed to society in an exemplary fashion. Their success serves as motivation and inspiration to all associated with the district.
A 1964 graduate of Smithville High School, Dr. Kurtz is being recognized for his lifetime of exceptional contributions to agricultural science, his dedication to education, and his extensive humanitarian and community service.
Dr. Kurtz’s career in weed science spans decades in both academia and the private sector. For 25 years, he served as a Research Professor at Mississippi State University, where he conducted pivotal weed control research for major southern crops and published influential guidelines used locally and nationally. In recognition of his distinguished career at the university, he was named Professor Emeritus of Plant and Soil Sciences upon his retirement in 2005. He then became the Research Station Manager for Kumiai America, where from 2005 to 2013 he led the U.S. field research that brought the groundbreaking herbicide KIH-485 to market. The active ingredient, pyroxasulfone, is now used in several major American agricultural herbicides. Dr. Kurtz has described bringing a new experimental herbicide to the marketplace as one of the most rewarding parts of his career.
Beyond his professional life, Dr. Kurtz has an extensive record of service. He served honorably for over four years in the United States Air Force, achieving the rank of Sergeant. His commitment to community includes volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, coaching youth sports, and serving on the Leland Chamber of Commerce. He is also deeply involved in ministry, having served on over 20 trips with the Kairos Inside prison ministry and participating in numerous mission trips with the Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International to Honduras and Nicaragua between 1988 and 1999.
Dr. Mark Kurtz’s multifaceted career, from his groundbreaking scientific research to his selfless community and humanitarian work, makes him a more than qualified and deserving recipient of this honor. His life and accomplishments stand as an inspiration to current and future students of the Smithville School District.