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TOMMIE SMITH
Mexico City Olympic Gold Medalist
Born to Richard and Dora Smith on June 6,1944, in Clarksville, Texas, seventh of 12 children, Tommie Smith began life very unpretentiously. God's intentions for him to provide a special service was evident very early as Tommie barely survived a serious bout with pneumonia as an infant. Not only did he survive, but also he went on to become a distinguished chapter of African-American history.
Beginning his incredible career in Lemoore, California, when as a fourth grade student he was asked to race against the fastest runner in the school (his sister Sally), he went on to become the only man in history of track & field to hold eleven world records simultaneously! By the time he graduated from high school he had been voted "Most Valuable Athlete" three years straight in basketball, football, and track & field. His college career was highlighted with many achievements. He started striving and breaking world records in track as a sophomore and did not stop until he had tied or broken thirteen. Academically, Tommie's major at San Jose State University was Social Science with a teaching emphasis, coupled with a Military Science and Physical Education minor. These areas constitute a major portion of the educational foundations upon which his professional tutelage has been based. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, and went on to teach and coach on the grammar school, junior and senior high school levels. His Master's degree in Sociology was earned later.
Tommie was the 200 meter champion in the 19th Olympiad in Mexico City with a time of 19.83 seconds, which was a world record until 1979 and an Olympic record until 1984. Yet with God-given talent, and encouragement to excel, Tommie Smith was propelled into human rights spokesman ship long before it became a popular cause. His concern was for the plight of African-Americans and others at home and abroad. Cheered by some, jeered by others, and ignored by many more, Tommie Smith made a commitment to dedicate his life, even at great personal risk to champion the cause of African-American-sociologically, educationally, morally, athletically, financially, and spiritually. To this day, since the "Stand for Victory," Tommie Smith remains as committed and as dedicated to principles which are God-blessed.
He has been featured in such major national publications as Sports Illustrated, Sports, Newsweek, Cleveland, Score, Ebony, Track & Field News among others. Innumerable newspapers/foreign magazines and audio/video media entities continue to seek him out for their features, training products and presentations. He competed and continues to travel throughout various European and Asian nations, and conducts seminars, clinics and delivers speeches in those locations, as well as on domestic college campuses.
Following the games of the 19th Olympiad, Tommie played professional football under the legendary Paul Brown with the Cincinnati Bengals for three years. He went on to become an Assistant Professor of Physical Education at Oberlin College in Northeast Ohio. In that capacity he taught Sports Sociology and numerous physical education courses, counseled many students and athletes who sought his expertise and advice, coached Track & Field as well as Football and Basketball, and served as Athletic Director.
Tommie is currently a faculty member at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, California. His tenure there has included his service on such college committees as the Academic Senate and the College Curriculum Committees, as well as teaching various Sociology, Health and Physical Education classes. He is the Head Men's Cross-Country and Track & Field Coach.
Having become a member of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1978, and serving on the coaching staff of the 1995 World Indoor Championship team in Barcelona Spain, he continues to expand his horizons of accomplishments. Tommie abstained from a coaching position on the 1997 Athens, Greece World championship due to his academic load at SMC. He maintains a busy schedule with pride and dignity.
In 1996 Tommie Smith was inducted into the California Black Sports Hall of Fame, and in 1999 he received the Sportsman of the Millennium Award. May of 1999 Tommie Smith was inducted into the Bay Area Hall of Fame along with Ronny Lott, Joe Montana and others. In November of 1999 he was inducted into Lemoore Union High School Hall of Fame and the San Jose State University Sports Hall of Fame. The silent gesture made by Tommie Smith, and others on the victory stand in Mexico City Summer Olympic Games was heard around the world has been documented by HBO TV titled "The Fist of Freedom" aired in August 1999. Tommie has been included in TV shows including the ESPN special "Season of Change: The African American Athlete," also a documentary by TNN called "15 Minutes of Fame."
In 2000-2001 the County of Los Angeles and the State of Texas presented Tommie Smith with Commendation, Recognition and Proclamation Awards.
Tommie Smith often quotes " Silver and Gold have I none but search as I have give I thee" Acts 3:6.
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