In April 2000 Ralph A. Smith was recognized by the National Art Education Association (NAEA) as the National Art Educator of the Year. At a general session of the NAEA national convention, he received a standing ovation that lasted several minutes. He appeared surprised at first, then elated, by the resounding sense of appreciation the participants demonstrated. It was a special moment because Smith's professional colleagues embraced the opportunity to publicly thank him for his extensive record of service to the field of art education in particular, and to the aims of aesthetic literacy in general. In this article, the author offers his perspective from the field of K-12 public education regarding Smith's contributions and influence, and concludes that Smith's contributions are based on his warranted commitments to the aesthetic domain, to the educational importance of the humanities, to the cognitive dimensions of the arts, to art education as a critical necessity, and to the value of traditions. This essay begins with a discussion of the meaning of warranted commitments as an entry into the author's attempt to gauge the significance of Smith's contributions to education and culture. (Contains 17 notes.)