James Richard Smith, age 89, of Buckhannon, WV, died Monday, February 17, 2025, at WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital in Buckhannon.
He was born April 10, 1935, in Buckhannon, the son of the late Lee and Gladys Smith. He was united in marriage to Jo Ann Frazee Smith on December 30, 1957, and preceded him in death on November 26, 2020. He is survived by one daughter, Camilla Ann and husband Bryan Winn of Norfolk, VA; one son, Jay Richard Smith and wife Ginger Smith of Zanesville, OH; two granddaughters, Sarah Marie, and Morgan Ellen Smith of Zanesville, OH.
Mr. Smith graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1953. He participated in basketball. He was a member of the 1952 Basketball Hall of Fame Team and is also in the Buckhannon Athletic Hall of Fame as an individual.
Mr. Smith graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan in 1957, with a BS Degree in Health and Physical Education at WV Wesleyan, he was a member of the basketball and championship track teams four years. In 1956 he broke the WVIAC 220 sprint record with a time of 22.4 seconds. He was drafted into the US Army in July 1957. He served with the Airborne 557th QMCO Aerial Supply at Evreux Air Force Base in Evreux, France. He also served with a special service group in the 1958 Lebanon Crisis in Beirut, Lebanon.
Mr. Smith started his first teaching and coaching position in Centerburg, OH. He taught Biology, Health and Physical Education. He was the head basketball, assistant football coach, and head track coach. The 1960-61 team won the Knox County Championship, the Central District Tournament, for the first time in the history of the school. He was the Knox Coach of the year and Mid Buckeye Coach of the year. In 2012 Centerburg Alumni presented in honor of him a Leadership Scholarship given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated leadership ability. The scholarship will be given each year.
From 1961-68 he taught Biology, Health and physical education, and was Head Basketball Coach, track coach and Assistant Football Coach at Belpre City Schools. He also was the Recreation Director for the City of Belpre Summer Recreation Programs. His basketball teams had winning records all seven years at Belpre. The 1966-67 won the Sectional Title for the second time in the school’s history. During this time period he was awarded a Nation Science Scholarship in Biology at Ohio Wesleyan. He completed master’s degrees in health, Physical Education, and Biology at West Virginia University.
In 1968, he became an instructor of Health and Physical Education, and also Director of Intramural activities, and Assistant Football and Basketball Coach. During his tenure at WV Wesleyan, he served as head Basketball Coach, head cross country coach, and head women’s and men’s tennis coach. His resume includes several WVIAC league titles, with the last in Women’s tennis in 1997. He also spent several years as chairman of the health and physical department. He retired in 2005 as Professor Emeritus.
He was inducted into the WV Wesleyan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, Class of 1957, as a player and coach. He was a multi-sport star for Wesleyan. He was a four-year letterman for the great Hank Ellis teams of the mid-1950s. As a sprinter in the 100- and 220-yard dashes led the team to WVIAC titles in 1955, 56, and 1957. His 1997 Women’s Tennis team was also inducted Wesleyan Hall of Fame in 2014.
During retirement, he enjoyed Fly Fishing, playing racquetball, tennis and some golf. He enjoyed gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
In honoring Mr. Smith’s wishes he will be cremated.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.polingstclair.com. Poling-St. Clair Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
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