Very little is known about Dr. Smitherman Herbert Sr., this article thereby reveals a bit more information about the prominent doctor.

Born on 23rd March 1937 in Birmingham, Dr. Smitherman Sr. was raised as the only child to a Baptist Minister- Reverend Smitherman Otis C. and mothered by Mrs. Alberta. Even though his family his family was confronted by several racial challenges, Herbert was already destined to education excellence. Regardless of the unceasing racial discrimination against the Blacks, he attended his further education at the Tuskegee Institute where he excelled and attained both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degrees in Chemistry. He served as a teacher at the Southern University of Texas, and later a 2-year stint in the military. Moreover, he attended the Howard University to further his education and obtained his PhD.

Smitherman became an innovative and prominent chemist who worked as an employee at the Procter & Gamble – a consumer goods company. He joined the company by 1966 and entered the records as the first Black to be hired with a doctorate qualification in the physical and organic chemistry. Mr. Herbert worked in the company for approximately 29 years, a period which saw him being rewarded as one of the company’s pioneering chemists. He made various modifications to the Crest product through introducing new formulations in the product’s manufacturing. Many people thought imagined that Smitherman was the inventor of the widely used Crest Toothpaste and Folgers Coffee among other products. However, he only helped in improving these already established products. The other famous products that Smitherman significantly participated in improving included Safeguard soap, Biz detergent, and Crush soda among other consumable products. As such, historical records hold it that Smitherman new formulations, innovations, and improvements led the Procter & Gamble Company to its fame and long-term positive or profitable performance.

After serving the 29-year long-term service at the Procter & Gamble Company, Dr. Herbert then worked as a professor at the Wilberforce University, discharging his duties as the Assistant Vice-President on academic affairs. Later, he turned his attention to start a high school, which was named “Western Hills Design Technology School.” The major objective for starting this school was to help the black students to improve or perform better in mathematics and science-related disciplines. By 2009, Smitherman served as the Principal at the Cincinnati Public School system for Virtual High and the Western Hills Design Technology High Schools. The other legacies set on the historical records by Dr. Smitherman Herbert before his death in 2010 include his programs to entice and bring in more Black Engineers and Chemists to the Procter & Gamble Company. As well, he assisted in the creation of the NOBCHE (National Organization for Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers). He died and left behind a single son and five daughters.
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