Bill Text: SC H3547 | 2013-2014 | 120th General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Coach John Smith
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 77-46)
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-19 - Introduced and adopted [H3547 Detail]
Download: South_Carolina-2013-H3547-Introduced.html
A HOUSE RESOLUTION
TO HONOR COACH JOHN SMITH ON HIS 900TH CAREER VICTORY AS COACH OF THE GREAT FALLS HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM, AND TO SALUTE HIM ON EXTENDING HIS RECORD AS THE WINNINGEST HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL COACH IN SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORY.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that Coach John Smith of Great Falls High School recently notched his milestone 900th basketball coaching victory; and
Whereas, the win came as Great Falls posted a 61-58 victory over Lewisville on Friday, February 1, 2013; and
Whereas, in 1969, twenty-two-year-old Columbia native John Smith, fresh out of Newberry College, arrived to coach the boys basketball team at Great Falls High. Forty-four years later, Coach Smith stands as the winningest coach in South Carolina boys basketball history, a position he has held for some years and simply cemented even more firmly when he captured his 900th victory; and
Whereas, Coach Smith came to Great Falls well prepared for the job. He graduated from Lancaster High as the school's all-time leading scorer in 1965 and played in the North-South All-Star Game. Entering Newberry on a basketball scholarship, he earned a letter for four seasons and served as co-captain as a senior. He earned the 1967 Best Defensive Player award, graduating in 1969 after being named to the South Carolina Tip-Off All-Tournament Team, All-Carolinas Conference, All-District Six, and All-State. Not a man of only one talent, he also played tennis at Newberry and was voted 1968 Most Valuable Player for that sport; and
Whereas, during his years at Great Falls, he has coached boys and girls varsity basketball, boys junior varsity basketball, golf, and junior varsity football and was an assistant varsity football coach. Coach Smith became his school's athletic director in 1980; and
Whereas, over the past four-plus decades, he has led his team to nineteen Class A State Championship games and won eight state titles, including the 2012 crown. Overall, the Great Falls basketball program has taken home ten Class A state titles, a state record; and
Whereas, John Smith was selected to serve as assistant coach for the 1978 North-South All-Star game, head coach of the 1984 High School All-Star game in Columbia, and co-coach of the inaugural Carolinas Classic Boys Basketball All-Star game in 1998; and
Whereas, he was inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004, Newberry College Men's Basketball Alumni Association Hall of Fame in 2006, South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010, and Newberry College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011; and
Whereas, a man of great personal humility, Coach Smith deflects credit for his successes and gives full credit and praise to his players and assistant coaches; and
Whereas, grateful for his dedication and excellence, the House of Representatives takes great pleasure in recognizing Coach John Smith on this latest achievement, his 900th basketball victory. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor Coach John Smith on his 900th career victory as coach of the Great Falls High School boys basketball team, and salute him on extending his record as the winningest high school boys basketball coach in South Carolina history.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Coach John Smith.
