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Jimmy Smith: Former teammates, co-workers share fond memories of community icon

david hughes, the tribune-star, terre haute, ind.
·6 min read

Nov. 17—Standout basketball guard at Terre Haute South High School and Indiana State, where he shared two successful seasons with Larry Bird in the late 1970s.

Uniformed officer with the Terre Haute Police Department.

Executive director of the Terre Haute Boys & Girls Club.

Jimmy Smith, who died Thursday at 67, was all of those things over the years. But he was probably best known for being a family man. Along with his wife Tami, they raised daughter Courtney Sumner and son Travis Smith.

Then Jimmy, Tami and the rest of their extended family were forced to endure the aftermath of an unthinkable tragedy — Travis dying as a passenger in a two-vehicle accident in Muncie during his freshman year of scholarship golf (Jan. 27, 2007) at Ball State. Travis was only 19.

They did endure, because they had no choice, then Jimmy Smith retired from the Boys & Girls Club in 2015 and health issues followed.

Tami Dooley Smith posted this about Jimmy on her Facebook page Thursday night (emojis excluded because they don't reproduce in the newspaper):

"Jimmy fought the good fight for nearly 9 years....he was tired. He was so so strong about everything!! He was inspiring and truly a testimony of the love he had for us❤️he loved our grandkids and was over the moon for them he had been nowhere since June 4th....courts bday. We had many deep talks over the last couple of months. His struggle was becoming more and more each day he told me it was a win win for him because if he goes to heaven, he gets to be with our boy and if he's on earth, he gets to be with me and the kids. I knew Jimmy would not be on earth for another year, but when I got to the hospital at 6:40 I knew he was dying. He was so peaceful when he transitioned to heavenI can never repay the people that remained at our side today as he died. I've been with him over 37 years and I don't know how to be me without him...he was was my true love and my soul mate."

Current Indiana State men's basketball coach Josh Schertz also tweeted about Jimmy:

"So sorry to hear about the passing of Sycamoreplayer Jimmy Smith. I never had the privilege of meeting him, but based on the amount of people who have reached out to me and the program express their condolences I am very sad not to have. What a legacy and impact he left behind."

And from the ISU basketball Twitter page:

"Our deepest thoughts and condolences goes out to the family of ISU basketball alum Jimmy Smith with the news of his passing this week.

"He will be truly missed for his contributions at both ISU and the Terre Haute community."

As the Terre Haute community and beyond mourns Jimmy Smith's passing, a few offered the Tribune-Star their thoughts about their friend, former teammate and former co-worker.

Among them:

—Bobby Moore, longtime Terre Haute Boys & Girls Club employee who is currently its chief executive officer — "Jimmy was a mentor, friend and my boss for 17 years. He promoted me and helped guide me through the years working together. His love for the children we served was amazing. He will be dearly missed."

—Maynard Lewis, current Terre Haute South boys basketball coach and former South/Purdue standout player — "I have had the pleasure of knowing Jimmy and his wife since I was in high school [in the late 1990s]. They were always encouraging and uplifting me. I have witnessed Jimmy on many occasions going beyond the call of duty to help people. His enthusiasm and giving spirit will be missed."

Smith served as a volunteer assistant coach for Lewis when Craig Porter Jr. played for Terre Haute South. Lewis described Smith's assistance as "very supportive and great for our program."

—Leroy Staley, former ISU teammate who currently lives in Gibsonton, Fla. — "I played with Jimmy at Indiana State during the 1977-78 season. Jimmy and I were great friends. Jimmy was an outstanding point guard and a great shooter.

"I spent a lot of time with Jimmy and his family. He was a fighter to the end, one of the strongest fighters 'til now. Rest in piece, Jimmy."

—John Plasse, current Vigo County sheriff who worked with Smith for several years when both served on the THPD — "At one time, Jimmy was the juvenile liaison at Terre Haute South when I was the liaison at [Terre Haute] North. He was a good mentor to me as he had been at South a few years and I had just started [at North]. We also played on the FOP [Fraternal Order of Police] softball and basketball teams together for many years.

"Jimmy was a great guy, fun to be around and liked to laugh. But at the FOP state tournaments, he was all business. I remember one year, a lot of us went out the night before a game and we showed up tired and a little worn out. He let us have it because we didn't take the tournaments as serious as he did, but we all got the point."

—Brad Miley, former ISU teammate — "Sad to hear! He was a great person, friend, father and teammate. He will be greatly missed!"

—Curtis Lyle, former South teammate and Lewis' uncle — "Jimmy was a friend since childhood. He was thoughtful and compassionate and always a true friend. Probably my favorite memory of him was when we won the sectional [in the early 1970s]. Jimmy was a big part of us winning."

—Terry Thimlar, ISU assistant coach when Smith played there in the late 1970s — "The thing I remember about Jimmy was when he told me at the end of his junior year, he was going to work on his game leading up to his senior season [Bird's junior year]. He felt he could really be a big part of the 1977-78 season. And, boy, was he. In the three most successful years of ISU basketball, Jimmy was a major part of two of those years."

—Dave Heath, retired South teacher — "My best memories of Jimmy don't necessarily involve basketball. He was the police liaison at Terre Haute South when I first started teaching there [in 1990]. I guess I most remember how much he seemed to enjoy working with the kids. He really had a way to connect with them. He could get them to open up to him. He would find out info that would help head off potential problems. He had the respect of students and staff.

"Jimmy always had that great smile on his face, especially when he was around the kids."

Services for Jimmy Smith are being handled by Greiner Funeral Home.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Greiner Funeral Home. Visitation also will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.