Richard A. Smith '46, chair of the General Cinema Corporation and a member of several University governing committees, has been appointed to the Harvard Corporation, the University announced yesterday.

Smith, well-known philan-thropist and a Forbes 400 millionaire with assets totaling about $460 million, will fill the seat on the University's chief governing board left empty when Colman Mockler Jr. '52, chair of the Gillette Corporation, died last January.

The Harvard Corporation is the seven-member governing board responsible for making day-to-day decisions on matters of educational, fiscal and institutional policy. The University president heads the board, and its members serve life terms.

The Board of Overseers, an alumni-elected body which advises and approves important actions of the Corporation, voted yesterday afternoon to confirm Smith's election.

"Richard Smith will bring outstanding qualities to the Corporation," President Neil L. Rudenstine said in a written statement. "I am delighted by his election, and look forward to working with him. I know that he will serve us all exceedingly well."

Smith is well-respected in the business community for building General Cinema into a billion-dollar entertainment, publishing and retail empire. General Cinema, which was founded by Smith's father, is now the nation's largest motion picture exhibitor.

Under Smith, General Cinema recently purchased the publishing firm Harcourt Brace Jovanovich for $1.4 billion. The conglomerate also owns 60 percent of the Nieman Marcus Group and has played a leading role in the nation's soda bottling industry.

The 67-year-old resident of nearby Chestnut Hill has recently been phasing out his day-to-day executive responsibilities at General Cinema. He stepped down as the company's chief executive officer in October after 30 years at the post, but remains involved as the chair of the corporation.

As a local resident and a successful business professional, Smith's special strengths neatly match those of his predecessor.

"We did want someone who lived around here and will give a lot of his time," said Geyser University Professor Henry Rosovsky, a Corporation member. "He's a man of very wide experience and will add a lot to the Corporation. He is really Colman Mockler's replacement. He's used to running a large enterprise."

Rudenstine also emphasized Smith's experience in the business world.

"He will bring with him, in addition to his understanding of the University from an educational point of view, his exceptional understanding of the organizational and financial aspects of large and complicated institutions," he said. "He knows Harvard extremely well--from many perspectives."

Smith, who has been a member of the Board of Overseers since 1988, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Smith is actively involved with several local medical organizations. He is the vice chair and former chair of the board of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, vice president of the United Cerebral Palsy Research and Education Foundation and an honorary trustee of the Beth Israel Hospital.

Smith has also been a key fundraiser for the Medical School, serving on the school's National Campaign Committee for several years.

"He has been a tremendously positive force on the development of the [Dana Farber Institute]," said Christopher T. Walsh, Gaiser professor of biological chemistry and pharmacology and president of the institute.

Other University observers said yesterday that Smith's familiarity with Harvard's medical community would serve the Corporation well.

"He has for a long time been a friend of the Faculty of Medicine, both through his leadership at Dana Farber and his service to Beth Israel Hospital," said Dean of the Medical School Daniel C. Tosteson '44. "The University will certainly benefit from his wise counsel."

In addition to the Board of Overseers, Smith serves on several influential governing committees at Harvard, including the board of the Aeneas Group, Inc., a subsidiary of the Harvard Management Company.

Smith also sits on the executive committee of the Committee on University Resources, the standing committees on financial policy, humanities and arts, and the Joint Committee on Appointments.

He is also the chair of the Visiting Committee to the Harvard Business School.

Smith is an honorary trustee of the Buckingham, Browne and Nichols School in Cambridge and of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston.

Smith has three children, two of which are graduates of the College and the Business School, and five grandchildren