Dr. Mark Kurtz inducted into Smithville High School Hall of Fame
Dr. Mark and Diane Kurtz
Longtime Leland residents Dr. Mark and Diane Kurtz were honored this fall as Dr. Kurtz was inducted into the Smithville High School Hall of Fame in Smithville, Missouri. The recognition, presented September 26 during Smithville’s homecoming festivities, celebrates alumni who have distinguished themselves through professional achievement and service.
A 1964 graduate of Smithville High School, Dr. Kurtz was recognized for a lifetime of contributions to agricultural science, education and community service.
After serving more than four years in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Kurtz earned degrees in agronomy and plant science and went on to a career in weed-science research spanning academia and private industry. For twenty-five years, he served as a research professor at Mississippi State University, conducting weed-control studies for major southern crops and publishing widely used management guidelines. Upon retirement in 2005, he was named Professor Emeritus of Plant and Soil Sciences.
He later managed the Kumiai America Research Station, where his team’s fieldwork helped bring the herbicide KIH-485 (pyroxasulfone) to market—now a key ingredient in several major U.S. herbicide products.
Beyond science, Dr. Kurtz has dedicated decades to service and ministry. He has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, coached youth sports, served on the Leland Chamber of Commerce, and participated in more than twenty Kairos Inside prison-ministry programs and twenty Emmaus Walks. Between 1988 and 1999, he joined multiple Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International trips to Honduras and Nicaragua.
Today, Dr. Kurtz teaches chemistry and botany at Greenville Christian School, where he also serves on the school board and as a deacon at Lighthouse Mission Church.
The Smithville Education Foundation described Dr. Kurtz as “an inspiration to current and future students of the Smithville School District.” The award was presented by Dr. Mark Maus, Smithville superintendent and Foundation board member.
Joining him at the ceremony was his wife Diane Kurtz, also a beloved member of the Leland community.
