By Sean Ingeram
It was at least 12 years ago when a nervous part-time sports writer walked into Arkansas Tech University¹s Tucker Coliseum to cover his first men¹s college basketball game.
I was helping out sports editor Warren Byrd and sports writer John Dunn at the time. John was covering the Golden Suns that night, and I was looking forward to covering the Wonder Boys, albeit nervous about stepping up a level.
All Warren told me was not to worry, some guy named Larry would take care of everything for you.
I found a seat along what was then a long media row that spanned the length of the basketball court. I sat down at the end behind the visitor¹s bench, where a skinny man was watching the Golden Suns do what they did best simply dissect another AIC opponent by about 20-30 points. “They¹ve been doing that all night!” the man said. “One side of the floor, they call everything. They get down on the other side, and just let them hack each other.”
Little did I know the guy complaining about the calling was the sports information director who was going to “take good care of me.” What?
In my early days, my part-time newspaper duties included typing anything anybody would give me, including all those sports information releases Warren asked me to type - this was before the Internet.
I later learned Larry¹s office generated at least 400 releases a year for all of Tech’s sports from August through May.
“Who are you with, USA Today?” Larry barked when I was watching the game, in sheer amazement of how Joe Foley’s two-time defending NAIA national champions could just devour opponents.
“No sir, I¹m with The Courier, helping out Warren and John,” I replied in an intimidated.
“I know who you are,” he said, smiling. “You need anything at all, let me know.”
Larry¹s sports information department has yielded dozens of men and women who have not only graduated from Tech, but graduated with honors and gone onto be very successful people.
Covering games at Tech has been a sports writer¹s dream: statistics, records information, help with interviews with coaches or players for features, even food and snacks - all provided by Larry and his crew.
As the years have gone by, I’ve worked with Larry and his crew on many occasions from those horribly long trips to Arkansas-Monticello and Southern Arkansas, to watching the football Wonder Boys become NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference championship contenders, to watching Larry and his staff host conference and national tournaments they pulled off without a hitch.
In two days, the member of the Sports Information Hall of Fame will make his final preparations, churn out his last release, turn off the computer and leave his office inside Tucker Coliseum for the last time. Smith is retiring from Tech, decades of watching sporting events throughout the South, and serving so many in the utmost professional manner.
“Thank You” doesn’t begin to cover what I¹ve learned and gained from a legend, who I also have the privilege of calling a friend. We hope to pay tribute to Smith¹s career in Arkansas sports with a feature and comments from colleagues and friends Sunday.
Until then, this one’s for Larry: See you in the bleachers. They won’t be the same without you.
Comments about Larry
“I’ve known Larry Smith since I became the SID at UAM in 1978, a position I held for the next 16 years. Larry made my job easy by leaving me one of the most complete set of athletic records in the old AIC. I learned a lot from Larry, primarily that there are no shortcuts to doing this job correctly, and if you want a job done correctly, do it yourself. When I came into the AIC, guys like Larry, Mac Sisson at Ouachita, Jim Staggs at Arkansas Tech and Stan Green at Harding were terrific role models. I wish Larry all the best, and on behalf of all of us who learned from him, say Oh Thank You!”
Jim Brewer, Director of Media Services UA-Monticello
“In the athletic world, there are two groups of dedicated professionals who are always among the first to arrive and the last to leave. They are athletic trainers and the Sports Information Professionals. If we paid these folks by the hour, no athletic program in the country could afford them. The work ethic and dedication of Larry Smith to do the job right was demonstrated to me by not only the long hours of hard work, but by an obvious passion and pride in doing the job better and faster than the next guy. Larry is indeed a leader among his SID peers. During my tenure as director of athletics at Arkansas Tech, it was common to receive compliments for the organizational skills and commitment to excellence demonstrated by Larry and his staff. I also learned from Larry the best places for late night eating in Arkansas He could, if he so chooses, write an excellent guide to dining throughout Arkansas and the Southern States.”
Dr. Earle Doman, Dean of Students Southwest Missouri State University (Former Tech Vice President for Student Services Director of Athletics)
“Larry’s thoroughness and efficiency were legendary in the AIC and Gulf South. You always knew what you were going to get with Larry, which was exceptional professionalism and exceptional hospitality. He is also a kind human being. I remember his offer to cover me when I found myself at a conference tournament without my credit card. Luckily, I was able to find other means, but I know his offer was genuine. He’s a good man.
Todd Traub, sports writer, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
"I was always glad to see Arkansas Tech on one of our schedules as I knew I would have a real professional to work with and someone I could learn from.”
Dave Fillmore, SID, Evangel College
“His dedication, love for the profession and his willingness to share his vast knowledge with a wet-behind-the-ears kid was most appreciated. His words of advice will stick with me for many years.”
Matt Jones, SID, Delta State University
“Every day, I benefit from his hard work while he was at UAM. I have always known that his office has been one of the most efficient and effective SID offices in the nation."
Paul Smith, SID, UAM
“I always looked up to Larry, not just by the way he did his job, but more importantly, how he treated people. Thankfully, his influence will continue on in the student workers and others that he worked so long and selflessly with.”
Justin Tinder, SID, Southwestern Oklahoma
“It always was a pleasure to come to Russellville, because I knew we would be well taken care of and shown great hospitality. I certainly hope Arkansas Tech appreciates all he’s done for them. I know we in the SID field certainly do.”
Bill Turnage, SID, Florida Southern University
“Larry should be very proud of his career and the accomplishments, but more importantly the people he has touched in our profession as a mentor and a friend. It is a very sad day when one of our greats retires.”
Roy Pickerill, SID, Kentucky Wesleyan
“Larry set the standard for class and hospitality. The sports information world will truly miss him. But more so, the world of college athletics is losing a great person."
Dan Cashel, SID, Drury University
“I will miss Larry’s class, professionalism and wonderful sense of humor and also his understanding of what most of us face at our institutions on a daily basis."
Steve Roberts, SID, Valdosta State University
“I never had the pleasure of working with a nicer, more professional person in any field."
Mitch Gray, SID, University of West Georgia
“As an SID still learning the ropes after four years in the business, I knew that I could always ask Larry anything to get helpful hints. He was almost like a dad to a lot of us that worked with him often throughout the year. We presented Larry a plaque and a gift certificate for he and Donna to go out to eat there in Russellville, and we also came up with a Top 10 list of things we would miss in the ATU SID office when Larry was gone."
Chris Babb, Sports Information Director, Ouachita Baptist University
“Larry Smith set an example for all sports information directors and will be missed. Although he was occasionally resistant to change, especially in the technology area, he gradually grew a set of new legs and quickly moved forward. He was a great host and took his job very seriously perhaps so much so, that he sometimes missed out on the fun side of things but that spoke miles about his loyalty to Arkansas Tech and the Gulf South Conference.
”Nathan Salant, Commissioner, Gulf South Conference
“Our profession is losing one of our best."
Kevin Trainor, SID, University of Arkansas-Fayetteville
Larry Smith's Awards, Honors, Accomplishments
-- Inducted into NAIA Hall of Fame for meritorious service, 1980 (only one
from Arkansas).
-- Received NAIA Award of Merit, 1976.
-- Named national Sports Information Director of the Year, 1989.
-- Inducted into College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of
Fame, 2000 (only one from Arkansas).
-- Won 51 publication awards, including 12 best in the nation.
-- Served as national media coordinator for seven national track and field
meets.
-- Served as media coordinator for two NCAA South Region women¹s basketball
tournaments, both hosted by Arkansas Tech University.
-- National media coordinator and statistician for King Cotton High School
Basketball Tournament, four years.
-- Pressbox coordinator and statistician for Arkansas Intercollegiate
Conference (AIC) track and field championships, 18 years.
-- Media coordinator and statistician for NAIA men¹s district basketball
championships, 10 years; women¹s tournament, five years.
-- Co-coordinator for 1998 and 1999 NCAA Division II Women¹s Elite Eight
national basketball tournaments at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
-- Was Heisman Trophy voter, five years.
-- Organized and developed AIC Sports Information Directors Association,
1970; the first conference SID organization to ever be organized among all
NAIA colleges and universities, and one that became a model for other
conferences across the country. He served as president four times.
-- Active in developing and restructuring the national NAIA SID Association.