Dean Ellis Smith,89, died on July 7, 2012. After graduating from Glendale High in 1940, Dean attended Arizona State College where he ran track and served as the editor of both the State Press and the yearbook. During WWII, he joined the Army Air Force, trained at Pomona College and Yale University, and served as a communications officer. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Arizona State. After college, he worked as a sports editor for the Glendale News and Mesa Tribune, and served as Sports Information Director for Arizona State. He covered Sun Devil sports for the Arizona Republic during the 1950s, then rejoined his alma mater, now known as Arizona State University, as Director of Publications and Director of Development until his retirement in 1984. Dean is the author of more than a hundred historical and biographical articles in national and regional magazines, as well as almost 30 books on the history of Arizona, ASU and biographical pieces. His first book, "Barry Goldwater: The Biography of a Conservative", figured prominently in the 1964 presidential campaign and started a lifelong friendship with the senator. Similar connections were forged while writing the histories of many great Arizona families: the Guerreros, Babbitts, Goldwaters, Getz's, Flinns, Tremaines, Chilsons, Fains and Rhodes. His latest book, "Arizona Nuggets" is now in its third printing, the 2012 Arizona Centennial Issue. He continued in the Air Force Reserve as a liaison officer for the Air Force Academy for 35 years of service retiring as a Colonel. He was an active member and volunteer for various organizations.  Dean is survived by his wife of nearly 44 years, Jean, four children from his first marriage to Betty Clark Smith, four stepsons, ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a sister and brother.