A Legacy Returns Home: The Sword of Charles T. “Chick” Smythe Reunited with St. John’s Northwestern
DELAFIELD, Wis., October 2025 — During Fall Families Weekend, a powerful moment of history came full circle at St. John’s Northwestern as the personal sword of Charles T. “Chick” Smythe, son of Academy founder Sydney Smythe, was returned to its rightful home.
The sword was first presented on Sunday, October 5, during the Sword and Saber Ceremony, a fitting tribute to the enduring traditions of leadership and honor at St. John’s Northwestern. The formal handoff then took place on the parade field, where the Corps of Cadets gathered to witness the symbolic reunion of a treasured artifact and the institution it helped shape.
A respected leader and educator, Chick Smythe devoted his life to developing young men of character. Though he once aspired to attend Princeton and become a lawyer, his calling led him back to St. John’s, where he served in multiple leadership roles, including Commandant of the Corps of Cadets and Vice Executive President until his passing in 1959. His influence shaped generations of cadets and became a cornerstone of the Academy’s proud history.
Following Smythe’s death, his widow, Maude Richardson Smythe, paid tribute to her late husband’s deep respect for Cadet Donald Joseph Wilson, Class of 1962, by gifting him the personal sword of Charles T. Smythe. The gesture reflected the profound mentorship and mutual admiration between Smythe and Cadet Wilson, an enduring connection between teacher and student.
More than 60 years later, Cadet Wilson’s son Jim Wilson rediscovered the sword among his father’s belongings. Recognizing its significance, he contacted KING Company Training Advisor Coach (TAC) Trevor Davis to coordinate its return to the Academy.
During the parade field ceremony, Mr. Wilson presented the sword to LTC Ioannis Kiriazis, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, who then passed it to the youngest member of the Corps, Cadet Bennett Knapp. In a moving gesture of continuity, Cadet Knapp then presented the sword to the 142nd First Captain, Cadet Jaime Sanchez, symbolizing the passage of leadership, honor, and tradition from one generation to the next.
“This moment represents more than history; it is legacy,” said LTC Ioannis Kiriazis, Commandant of the Corps of Cadets. “The Wilson family’s generosity and the enduring spirit of Charles T. Smythe remind us that our values are not bound by time but carried forward through every cadet who wears this uniform.”
Charles T. Smythe’s ceremonial and personalized sword is a visual reminder of that, linking our proud past with our valued present in a moment that will long be remembered at St. John’s Northwestern.
About SJN
St. John’s Northwestern is a safe, structured environment that provides each student a foundation for life with specialized programs that are built with future aspirations in mind. SJN is a private co-ed college preparatory boarding and day school and is accepting applications for grades 7-12 and post-graduate. Learn more at stjohnsnorthwestern.org.