- A blazing fast athlete with the strength to match, he starred on the track and football field at Bay City Central before lettering for three seasons with the Northwestern University football team. He ranked among the Big Ten’s top kickoff returners in 1989 with 19 returns for a 19.3 average. A situational running back, he ran for 237 yards and caught eight passes in his Division I career. In 1991, he was named Player of the Game in Northwestern’s 16-13 win over Michigan State. He earned first-team all-Saginaw Valley League honors as a 1989 Central graduate, rushing for 1,409 yards and 10 TDs in two varsity seasons.
Smith was a rare talent on the track, winning the 1989 Class A state championship in the 100-meter dash. He also placed fifth in the state as a junior and led the 400 relay team to fifth as a senior. He set school records in the 400 and 3200 relays and broke the long jump record that was set 31 years earlier by his Hall of Fame father Namon Smith.
Scholarship Criteria
The Bay County Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship is intended to provide a means to reward personal excellence in athletics to high school seniors. Students involved in a Bay County high school athletic program may apply for this scholarship with a monetary value of $1000.00.
Applicants receive consideration for this scholarship on the basis of:
- 2.0 GPA or above;
- Citizenship;
- High School Athletic Performance
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
- Senior involved in Bay County high school athletics.
- Senior letter winner
- Senior that correctly completes the application.
- Winner must attend, as our guest, the Hall of Fame Banquet in November.
- Winner must attend a Bay County High School during their Senior Year.
- Be a student of merit, high personal character, and good behavior patterns
POLICIES OF THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
- Scholarships are for one year and not renewable.
- Scholarships are in the form of a personal check.
HOW DOES A CANDIDATE APPLY
- Obtain the application form from a counselor or print out the attached form.
- A comprehensive letter of recommendation covering leadership, character, and athletic ability from at least one person, but not more than three, directly associated with the candidate in the high school.
- All applications must be submitted to the Hall of Fame committee by MAY 10th of the current school year.
- A statement from the candidate of not more than 250 words summarizing school accomplishments and of the applicant’s objective of further education.