Homer A. Smith ’54

Our beloved classmate Homer Smith died April 10, 2011, at his home in Tuscaloosa, Ala.  

Born in Independence, Mo., he prepared for Princeton at Lawrenceville. His college activities included being president of the class in 1954 and captain of the football team in his senior year.  

Honored by the American Football Coaches Association in 2007 with its prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award “for contributions to the football coaching profession, mentorship of his fellow coaches, and outstanding teaching of student-athletes,” Homer had a football career that spanned five decades. He served as head coach at Davidson College, University of the Pacific, and the U.S. Military Academy; as offensive coordinator at UCLA (three times), the Kansas City Chiefs, Alabama (twice), and Arizona; and as backfield coach at the U.S. Air Force Academy and Stanford. Homer coached in four Rose Bowls and eight other bowl games.  

After graduating from Princeton, he served in the Army as a field artillery officer. He earned an M.B.A. from Stanford and a master’s degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School.  

The class extends its condolences to his wife of 58 years, Kathryn Haskell Smith; daughters Kimberly and Carolyn; and four grandchildren. Donations in his memory may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, 800 Greensboro Ave., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, or to Big Oak Ranch, P.O. Box 507, Springville, AL 35146.