Gould Hoyt, a long-time professor and friend of Paul Smith’s College, died last Tuesday. He was 90.

Hoyt was employed as a full-time professor at Paul Smith’s from 1952 to 1983 and gained emeritus status in 1986. He retired fully in 1992. But Hoyt wore many different hats and touched many lives at Paul Smith’s during his tenure and beyond.

“Professor Hoyt was held in the highest esteem by the Paul Smith’s College alumni who had the privilege to be his students,” said President John Mills. “One only needed to be at reunion and see the crowd that surrounded him when he arrived to know he truly had a significant impact on many lives and careers.”

Hoyt taught forestry, silviculture and dendrology, among other courses.  He was the advisor to the Forestry Club and helped guide the construction of the Forestry Club Cabin, which is still as well used as ever.

In 1955, he became the coach of the woodsmen’s team, which won the spring meet in 1957 and every year thereafter until 1965, the longest string of consecutive victories in the history of the meet.

Hoyt was the primary caretaker of Paul Smith’s draft horses in the 60s and 70s and the first to use them for logging, a practice that continues to this day.

He also ran the Paul Smith’s College Sugar Bush in the 50s and early 60s. Gould’s Garden, an employee garden plot near the soccer field, was named after the professor.

“Even many years after his retirement, Mr. Hoyt took an active interest in the college,” says Jeff Walton, the dean of the School of Natural Resource Management and Ecology. “He would frequently stop into the faculty office to chat and advise. His insight helped me to understand the history and culture of the forestry division.”

There will be a funeral procession with the Paul Smith’s College Stage Coach at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 8 from the Joan Weill Student Center to St. John’s Cemetery with a graveside service to follow at noon.