About Inductee

Al Smith, who died in 2002 at the age of 64, was one of the most popular and successful coaches in the history of Madison County athletics. Born on June 7, 1927, in Charleston, Miss., he attended Northwest Junior College in Mississippi and, following a two-year hitch in the U.S. Army, graduated from Mississippi State University in 1952. He later received a Masters degree from Montevallo in 1972. As a pitcher at Northwest Mississippi Junior College, he compiled a 6-1 record and led his team to the state junior college championship. He was one of the ace pitchers at Mississippi State in 1951 and 1952. Pitching in his final game at State, he carried the Bulldogs to the Southeastern Conference championship. Smith was an elementary principal and later a teacher and coach in Mississippi before coming to the Huntsville area in 1963. He started the first football program at Madison Academy and later the first baseball program at Grissom High School (1969). He was a teacher coach at Madison Academy (1963-67), Westlawn Middle (1968-69), Grissom (1969-75) and Butler (1975-91). He won numerous city championships at Grissom and Butler, and his 1985 Butler team won the state championship. His 1979 Butler team was the State Champion Runner-up. He was named the citys coach of the year eight times. One of his players was former Butler All-State pitcher Jimmy Key, who went on to Clemson University and later to a long career in the major leagues. Smith is remembered as a beloved veteran coach who was interested in developing winning teams but was more interested in helping his players cope with life beyond the baseball diamond. I dont believe there has ever been a coach in the city of Huntsville who was more beloved and respected than Al Smith, former Grissom football coach Larrie Robinson once said. Al Smith coached baseball for more than 37 years, the last 27 of those years were spent coaching within the Huntsville City limits. Smith, who died April 26, 1992, is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sue Smith Lee, and by two sons, Al III and Frank, and a daughter, Terry Sjoholm.