To those of you who may not be familiar with Coach Robert Smith’s résumé throughout his extraordinary career, please allow me to just say a few words about a lifelong friend and special human being. Robert Earl, as we all called him growing up, was part of that undefeated team from S.D. Lee High School in the Mighty Class of ’71.
He was one of the most gifted athletes ever to lace up a pair of cleats at Lee High School. He was cat-quick as a defensive lineman at Lee High and later was a first-team freshman of the year at Mississippi Valley State University. He even survived the first cut at a pro football tryout camp, but not the second.
Throughout his long career coaching and serving in administrative roles as an assistant principal at Joe Cook Elementary School and then West Lowndes, he was also a longtime trustee on the Columbus Municipal School Board and then served four or five terms as mayor of Columbus, Mississippi — The Friendly City.
If there is one thing I can say about Robert Earl without any hesitation, it is this: He never forgot where he came from or the many people who helped to mold his character along the way. He never was one to back down from a fight, no matter what the odds were or the opponent. His tried-and-tested character enabled him to stress the importance of academics to his players and his students at every available opportunity.
He believed that the discipline he acquired by playing sports helped elevate his career and his ability to relate to others in a variety of circumstances, regardless of their backgrounds. Say what you will about Robert Earl Smith Sr., but there will not be many Columbians that I know of who have contributed so much to the political landscape, the economic fabric, and the progression of generational educational development and business inclusion for our community as Robert Earl has.
Yes, Columbus, I was there with him in the Mighty Class of ’71 under then-principal Mr. J.V. Carr as the first elected African American Mr. Lee High, and we know all too well what the first fully integrated class of racially diverse students went through on and off the football field, in the classrooms, and with the Columbus Municipal School District.
In closing, I would be remiss if I didn’t pay tribute to our famed, legendary football coach and hometown hero, Coach Billy Brewer, who didn’t see your color — he saw your character — and he had a lot to do with the men we became.
So we all, regardless of your political stripe, should take a minute and give Robert Earl his flowers now because he truly deserves them for a job well done in so many facets of Columbus and Lowndes County leadership positions. We now welcome you to the Lowndes County Sports Hall of Fame Inductees Ceremony in April, along with the other honorees.
Larry Watson
Columbus
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